O’Connor set for centre transition
17 Nov 2011
James O’Connor will begin his establishment at inside centre during the Wallabies end-of-year tour to the UK.
With Quade Cooper sidelined with a serious knee injury until the halfway stage of Super Rugby, Berrick Barnes is expected to start in the Wallabies No 10 jumper which should see O’Connor slot in at inside centre. It’s a move that interests O’Connor, after playing wing and fullback for most of his career with the Wallabies and Western Force in Super Rugby.
‘That was one of the main reasons I wanted to move down to Melbourne [he'll play for the Rebels next season],’ O’Connor told smh.com.au. ‘I wanted to move to that front line and get some experience there, and I see a good fit with Kurtley [Beale] at 15 and with Danny [Cipriani] there at 10.
‘There’s no doubt Quade brings a certain thing that not many guys can, and Kurtley as well,’ he continued. ‘They’re game winners and game breakers as well, but we’ve got a different group and everyone’s going to bring a different game. Barnsey brings a different game and I’m looking forward to getting involved with him.’
O’Connor said he wants to cement a place in the midfield to be more involved as a playmaker.
‘Any Australian team always plays an attacking style of rugby,’ he said. ‘I want to get into that front line, ball-playing a little bit more and [getting] a few more touches. The last couple of days I’ve been in the mix in those positions. Hand-on-ball time, the amount of time you get with the ball and the time you get to decision-make.
‘I guess when you’re in the front line you make most of the decisions, and that’s what I want to be doing. Ball-playing as well, but ball-running and taking a few more hit-ups.’
77 Comments
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17 Nov 2011, 12:21 pm
race of tan #47 – I meant Berrick Barnes. Am surprised Gits is not going!!
17 Nov 2011, 12:23 pm
mshiniwami – Problem now is that Lambie was solid at fullback for the Boks at the RWC!!! He showed alot of class that Fran Steyn has and in my opinion is better at 15 than F Steyn as F Steyn is more of a 12 now!!
I see Aplon as a super sub or a wing!!
17 Nov 2011, 12:26 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-25: No way, Barnes is another very classy player. Aussies are blessed with some real talent in the backline.
17 Nov 2011, 12:33 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-46:
ok… gotcha…
17 Nov 2011, 12:34 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-52:
He was classy for Sharks all of last season at 10
He will even be better at 10 seeing that SA needs a new dimension at 10.Morne Steyn types take a backseat for now.(use them as insurance)
Lambie has Test experience at 10,with top players around him(unlike wretched 2011 TriN away tour) he will excell even more then. He has the game and the most important component at 10 in test rugby-DECISION MAKING.Varies play well and is likely to play 10 for Sharks at S15 as Riaan Viljoen has been signed at 15 and Michalak’s imminent departure on the cards.
Goosen & Jantjies are excellent talents at 10 but they are the erratic type especially so early in careers.They both will make steady progress in nxt few years and compete with Lambie.Either way Lambie has to compete he doesnt have a monopoly in any position. At 10-Goosen,Jantjies on horizon,at 15-Aplon & Taute.SA more needy at 10
17 Nov 2011, 12:36 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-17:
how are they different sorts of players…?
17 Nov 2011, 12:36 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-52: Steyn has always been a 12 – it is only the freaking Sharks that play him out of position constantly
17 Nov 2011, 12:38 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-50:
agree totally
17 Nov 2011, 12:45 pm
@mshiniwami.
You make some good points.
I guess the Super 15 will be a true measure of what Goosen is capable of doing in the short-term, and will show whether he has received the right tutelage to play somewhat structured (to what the situation demands) or whether he’ll be making mistakes in his decisions.
I’ll be one of the first to admit I was wrong if he doesn’t come through with flying colors at first, but I’m holding my thumbs that he does.
One of the reasons I’d prefer him in there early is because if the Boks start well under another flyhalf, they’ll be reluctant to give someone like Goosen a chance to establish himself. He’d have to wait until after the next World Cup, or until the Boks hit a dry patch 0_0
On Mvovo. Fair call, but I think playing against NZ & OZ requires a skill-set that goes further then simply breaking the line. Especially defensively I don’t see Mvovo being able to play under a Nienaber type defensive scheme. Again, happy to be proved wrong because you’re right, he is a strong runner and so forth. I’m also a bit concerned that he has no kicking game & isn’t exactly ‘solid’ under the high ball.
I agree with most what you say about Aplon, but I can’t see the Springboks throwing their weight behind him as the fullback. You are spot on with Lambie and so forth though. He’s not really an out and out line-breaker, but he would still add value there.
We’re pretty light on the wing, and he’s got a lot of the attributes you want from a winger.
Looking forward to seeing how the Super 15 unfolds
17 Nov 2011, 13:03 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-59:
Ok Fair enough.Ya S15 is going to bring a lot more clarity in selections.
On Mvovo,a defensive system can be taught & in 3N 2011 nienaber was with Boks in SA “Miracle 21″ so he and other didnt have chance to play or coached the pattern. mate if JP can learn defense etc AS RAW AS HE WAS,many thought he didnt have mental makeup to be the allround player he is today. Players like Digby Iaone,Hosean Gear have limited kicking games & taken time on covering work yet they are top class players whose linebreaking ability and power superceded their deficiencies as those FACETS could be COACHED/TAUGHT. Odwa Ndungane case in point,solid footballer who has worked hard on his game. You can coach that,the former’s abilities you either have or you dont.Exposure to such patterns & increased playing time will change things.
Also looking forward to S15.
17 Nov 2011, 13:27 pm
Question – why are other countries (including Aus & NZ) not scared to introduce teenagers to test rugby, but in SA the common view is that “we don’t want another Gaffie” ??
17 Nov 2011, 13:33 pm
@willievz(willievz)-61: because we farken dom…..
17 Nov 2011, 13:37 pm
@willievz(willievz)-61: @grant10(grant10)-62:
Gaffie shouldn’t prevent a youngster from being called in if he’s good enough.
He does make a reasonable argument though in that Johan Goosen hasn’t proven to have the tactical nous to be starting at 10 straight off.
I hope he shines in Super Rugby though! That boot alone would be a huge asset (especially alongside Frans), but he’s shown to be a decent attacking player so far as well, yes?
It’ll be a tough decision for whoever becomes Springbok coach!
25% will want Lambie.
25% will want Goosen.
25% will want Jantjies.
And there will be those in Pretoria who still want Morne
17 Nov 2011, 13:41 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-17:
@ufo(ufo)-56:
hendrik…
i’m really interested to know how you feel lambie and o’connor are such “different sort of players…”
please enlighten me…
17 Nov 2011, 13:45 pm
@ufo(ufo)-64:
O’Connor instinctively an attacking player. Quicker on his feet. Not an in your face defender.
Lambie holds the ball up better with both hands always looking for opportunities around him. Stronger defender. My opinion would definitely make a better 10 then O’Connor who would still suffer from ‘trying too much’.
17 Nov 2011, 13:48 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-65:
In other words…
If I wanted a player as a main strike weapon, I’d give it to O’Connor.
If I wanted a guy to be a playmaker & organiser, Lambie.
A bit surprised with all the talk about having O’Connor at 10. Can’t see what huge value he would add there as he’s probably best suited to playing fullback. Him putting his foot down is the only reason he’ll be playing 12.
17 Nov 2011, 14:25 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-66:
well that’s what makes life interesting hey…?
i totally disagree with you…
what does o’connor offer at 10…? you serious…?
IMO… i’d want the players who can and do make things happen to get the ball as much as possible… not hope that they get the ball if and when players who don’t make things happen as much just happen to make the right decisions and just happen to execute the right actions and then, when the space is closed down, expect my play-maker to pull the rabbit out of the fire…
i think your points about their differences are splitting hairs… i reckon o’conner and lambie are very similar players… hence the debate about both of them… if they were so different as you suggest i don’t think we’d be discussing the same things about them and where best they fit… 10, 12, 15 or even wing…
IMO they’re both very good players… both good defenders… both good line-breakers… both quick thinkers… both good decision makers… i just think o’connor is, arguably, better than lambie in all these departments…
o’connor is definitely the better goal-kicker…
but that doesn’t mean I don’t rate lambie… i really do… and would have him as my first choice starting bok number 10 every time…
(we still have to see how goosen develops this S15…)
17 Nov 2011, 14:27 pm
oh yes….
and o’connor is definitely much quicker than lambie…
17 Nov 2011, 14:30 pm
@ufo(ufo)-67:
Let me put it another way then.
Lambie has more composure. I’d trust him to close out a game.
Plus a flyhalf is one of the positions that has to make the most tackles out of any player on the field. It helps to have someone like Lambie on that side of the ball in the 10-12 channel.
I don’t think O’Connor is nearly as good a defender, but you make some very good points
17 Nov 2011, 14:50 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-69:
cool bud…
IMO though… o’connor has composure in buckets… and makes the vast majority of his tackles too…
you say you would trust lambie… therefore wouldn’t trust o’connor… to close out a game for you…?
well he was good enough to close out the game and knock the boks out of the world cup… with a very high-pressure sideline penalty conversion…
that’s good enough composure for me… and i’d trust him to do it again…
but he’s still a d1ckhead… hopefully he matures with age…
pat lambie on the other hand… by all accounts… is a great guy… humble and mature beyond his years…
who of the two would i buy a beer for…?
only pat lambie…
17 Nov 2011, 16:23 pm
@ufo(ufo)-70:
Mate you could not be further from the truth with J’OC… one of the most level-headed kids I have met…
As for this EOYT… not even Deans knows who will take the 10 jumper with O’Connor saying as much at the recent Weary Dunlop Victorian Rugby luncheon… the only thing set-in-stone that between the 10/12 axis is sorted…
He has however been guaranteed the 12 birth at the Rebels…
WTF are these Protea’s thinking… in a commanding position ‘lets start slogging’ like this isn’t test cricket and hey presto 3 wickets gifted!
17 Nov 2011, 17:09 pm
Springbok xv 15 taute 14 jp 13 fourie 12 f steyn 11 mvovo 10 lambie 9 hougaard 8 spies 7 strauss 6 brussouw 5 bekker 4 alberts 3 jannie 2 bismarck 1 beast.
17 Nov 2011, 17:18 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-71:
not just me bryce… i obviously haven’t met him… but several ex wallabies and media people have said the same thing…
but i’ll happily be proven wrong… as i said… i believe he is the most naturally gifted rugby player in the world at the moment…
but his utterings about brand o’connor and other things do nothing for his image…
also had an oz blogger on here during the s15 who when i said i rated o’connor… said he knew the guy and went to some length saying what a jerk he is… said many of his team-mates think the same thing…
if o’connor has a problem with his image… there’s only one place he can look for the blame…
in the mirror…
17 Nov 2011, 17:21 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-71:
i would really love to see o’connor in the wallaby 10 jumper long-term…
i think the world would see something very special… and yes… i believe he would be better than carter…
but right now it’s just my opinion… and i have no way of proving it while his coaches play him all over the place…
20 Nov 2011, 06:30 am
O’Connors going to have to beef up a bit, if he’s going to play at 12.
His running is fine for the position, but if he gets hit once by blokes like Nonu or Butch, he’ll be out of the game.
As far as the Bok go, I think young Lambie inside Steyn would be a good move.
Past time to bring young Jantjies on also, to provide them each with competition.
20 Nov 2011, 09:14 am
O’Connor is beefed up. I doubt he could put on more bodyweight without sacrificing his speed.
21 Nov 2011, 09:54 am
@ufo(ufo)-67: @ufo(ufo)-73:
Pat Lambie & James O’Connor in skillset and playing characteristics are completely 2 different players.Just because they play 10/12/15 & similiar in stature they are the same type of players-their abilities differ in majority.
James O’Connor has great feet,excellent off the mark acceleration & very strong in contact.He is a strike runner/genuine line breaker more than a “ball player”.pat Lambie is more of a facilitator,excellent ball skills,vision,good decision maker,great defender whether front on or otherwise.Lambie is not a genuine strike runner nor line breaking threat.O’Connor is not a genuine ball player & decsion maker whoo varies play putting others in space.
Largely 2 different skillsets in which they succeed/possess.
Better than Carter??? Whoa easy,the kid is very talented but to be honest he isnt the best in ANY one POSITION as of yet even in OZ… At 15 Beale is better, on the wings-Iaone & Mitchell are better,At 10 Quade Cooper is better, At 12 Barnes,Faingaa are front runners-O’Connor has hardly played there in last 3 years….At the moment he is still very much a mercurial type versatile player but not the STANDARD in any.
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