Pool C latest – No room for O’Connor
6 Sep 2011
Keo.co.za brings you the latest World Cup news from Pool C.
No room for O’Connor – Australia have named the same starting line-up that ran on against the All Blacks a fortnight ago to face Italy.
That means James O’Connor, who missed that Test in Brisbane due to suspension, has to be content with a spot on the wood for their tournament opener in North Habour, Auckland.
James O’Connor was named on the bench for Australia’s World Cup opener against Italy after coach Robbie Deans stuck with a winning team and opted against recalling the winger following his one-game suspension for indiscipline. There are two other changes among the substitutes, with prop James Slipper and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau coming in for Saia Fainga’a and Salesi Ma’afu.
‘Their [Italy's] last Six Nations outing was a very good performance, they put the French away. We know we have to hit the ground running and that’s what we are hoping to do,’ coach Robbie Deans said.
‘It is definitely our best line-up because we want to win and we have a lot of respect for the Italian side. I have watched them play some great rugby and watched them develop.’
Asked for his assessment of Italy, Australia captain James Horwill said: ‘Their set piece is quite intimidating. We have watched plenty of footage from the Six Nations and the scrum is a real weapon for Italy and it is something we have identified and work on.’
Australia - 15-Kurtley Beale, 14-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13-Anthony Fainga’a, 12-Pat McCabe, 11-Digby Ioane, 10-Quade Cooper, 9-Will Genia, 8-Radike Samo, 7-David Pocock, 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-James Horwill (captain), 4-Dan Vickerman, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Sekope Kepu.
Subs: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-James Slipper, 18-Rob Simmons, 19-Ben McCalman, 20-Scott Higginbotham, 21-Luke Burgess, 22-James O’Connor
18 Comments
6 Sep 2011, 06:48 am
WHAT! Don’t know how you leave O’Connor out. He should be getting game time heading into the play-off games, not sitting on the bench. Fainga’a on the other hand would make an excellent substitute later in the game. Strong runner, but especially I like his defense, and Australia have been very poor on defense in the later parts of games the last few years.
Also, nice to see Samo play well against NZ, but he makes so many mistakes, I’d have looked elsewhere. My personal choice, Ben McCalman. Outside of that I can’t find fault
6 Sep 2011, 08:04 am
Oz lookin good – dangerous side .
6 Sep 2011, 08:05 am
Deans is disciplining the naughty O’Connor. Dont worry he will get game time before the play-offs.
6 Sep 2011, 08:09 am
They should of rather gone for three front rankers on the bench instead of three loose forwards. That Italy scrum is going to moer them and they are going to need three reserve front rankers just to attain parity at the scrum.
6 Sep 2011, 08:10 am
Uncle Robbie fed up with with Bieber’s tantrums………..shame
6 Sep 2011, 08:22 am
Pat McCabe is the Meisiekind of Ozzie rugby. Less than 1 dimensional!
Why the hell does Deans keep on selecting McCalman? As cover for Pocock? They shouldve selected Baeu Robinson of the Reds in the WC squad.
OZ strongest team:
15 Beale; 14 OConnor; 13 AAC; 12 ANT Faainga; 11 Digby; 10 Quade; 9 Genia; 8 Samo (Palu after 50); 7 Pocock ; 6 Elsom (Scott after 50); 5 Horwill; 4 Vickers (Simmons after 50); 3 Slipper; 2 Moore; 1 Kepu …..with Polota Nau and Ben Alex as subs
6 Sep 2011, 08:28 am
I say let O Connor play…What the Hell is up with Robbie Deans? James already missed out on his biggest game of the year vs the ALL BLACKS.
Cooper is leaving at least 10 points out there during each game.
6 Sep 2011, 08:35 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-6:
Forgot about Palu. He probably their best option as starting 8.
6 Sep 2011, 08:41 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-8:
I say Wallabies should stick with Samo, he just seems have the confindence due to the Reds S15 and 3N victories.
Although prone lose his ball, he adds a bit a speed and grunt to that pack of forwards. Just love the way he runs with the ball.
Palu not match fit – would thus include him against the minnows – although fragile he’s a much better option than McCalman
6 Sep 2011, 10:38 am
O’Connor is being left out because he offers exactly the same player attributes as both Beale and Cooper.
- On attack, equally as capable of winning the game for them at any point as they are of losing it.
- Poor in defence
The Wallabies can’t afford to have three loose cannons who can’t tackle in the backline at the same time. Deans seems to have finally realised that.
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-6: McCabe may be predictable, but his powerful defence and very low error rate is exactly what the Wallabies needed to balance the volatility of the three golden boys.
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-8: On form, yes. But Palu has only played about 6 games in 18 months, most of them partial games, and only at club level.
He isn’t ready, and I don’t think he will be in time for the finals either. Deans begs to differ, and I hope he is right.
6 Sep 2011, 10:42 am
@DonutDunning(DonutDunning)-10:
O’Connor poor on defense? No way man! You were right about the other two, but O’Connor is an excellent defender.
6 Sep 2011, 13:01 pm
Their last outing was a victory over France – no it wasnt it was a defeat to Scotland, followed by a narrow win over Japan and another loss to Scotland!
6 Sep 2011, 14:05 pm
the jakes are on bieber
6 Sep 2011, 14:42 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-11:
He has a lot of heart but can be a rag doll at times.
And the Horan comparisons must end now just like they did with Rathbone.Similiar build but not same class.
Ashley Cooper a better defender and Faingaa is excellent on defence & groundwork is superb.
Can see what deans is doing
6 Sep 2011, 14:59 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-11:
Adam two dads is a better defender than o connor. At wing o connor and Adam two dads offer the same in attack. Oconnor will offer more closer to flyhalf. Adam two dads is better at second centre by far.
6 Sep 2011, 15:05 pm
O connor is being left out to discipline the young lad – ask anyone from the Canterbury franchise rules are rules , team first – good to show that nobody is irreplacable , character creating for o connor
6 Sep 2011, 15:15 pm
I will be so p@#$off if Deans bags this one for oz – he is one hell of a coach , imo in the world at the moment (ofcourse Pdivvy is a close second lol) and it looks like his team are kicking at the right time …. Oz are definately going to be contenders
7 Sep 2011, 01:25 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-11: I wouldn’t say excellent. He is good at front-on tackles for his size, but gets wrong footed by runners quite a bit.
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-15: Agreed, O’Connors best position would be 10 or 12, but I don’t think this should happen in a backline that already has Quade at 10.
Two dads is a lot stronger under the high ball too, which I noticed really helped Beale get more involved last week.
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