James O'Connor - is he THAT good to be in Wallabies NOW

[straightshooter]

Kid is talented, sure but I believe he should have earnt some stripes before getting the brass ring and $$$$ that goes with it. Plenty of talented lads around but generally tjhey need to "learn" their trade and be successful at each level prior to playing for tha Wallabies.

He has had some pretty average involvments and a bit of maturity would not have hurt him at all

Thoughts

 

[Scotty]

Yes and no.

He definately could have done with another year of S14, but then would he have been ready for the Wallabies come RWC2011? Maybe by getting more exposure, he will mature faster - hopefully.

Wasn't like there are that many quality experienced options to take his place, anyway.

 

[Godfrey]

I actually rate him a fair bit. Had a couple of pretty average games, but also a lot of really impressive touches. Is it possible a lot of the vitriol sent his way here is because he's a confident, good-looking successful teenager?

 

[waratahjesus]

i dont rate him currently, but that doesn't mean to say i dont think he has potential.
running off giteaus hip into holes at super 14 level is a completely different thing to running into half gaps and i think it showed he wasnt ready when he played against the better teams, his nerves and twitchyness where awful, if his mind aint there it doesnt matter what potential he has, he is going to fail and i believe the mind is the hardest part to mature. Mortlock was a bit of a pretty boy when he started on the wing took him a season or to to realise getting hurt or trying to avoid contact made him a worse player and i guess playing with pretorius this year and having to make his own luck should make JOC (James O'Connor) realise that, his performance against the blacks in his starting fullback role when he avoided contact with a runner a couple of times just cause he couldnt be arsed putting the tackle in was atrocious and should be rewarded with at least a year away from the squad.

 

[straightshooter]

I actually rate him a fair bit. Had a couple of pretty average games, but also a lot of really impressive touches. Is it possible a lot of the vitriol sent his way here is because he's a confident, good-looking successful teenager?

No doubt the lad is confident - maybe he should be a bit more humble - good looking - not my go - just think that maybe he should have been made to wait until his undoubted ability matured a little

 

[rugbywhisperer]

Please cn someone tell me what makes him so special.
As yet, I haven't seen him do anything any centre/fullback in clubland could do. I think he has only 'created' one try - everything else has been done in the course of playing - nothing special - yet in defence he looks like a deer caught in the headlights - bloody scared.

 

[Godfrey]

I think he'd be a really good player inject at inside centre at about the 60 minute mark when there are more tired legs on the field because I think his ability to get past defenders and create chances would serve better there in that context than his general fullback play. His one touch against Scotland is a good example of what I mean.

 

[straightshooter]

Whispers old mate,
Agree agree agree

 

[Gagger]

I'd say he's got one of the best set of feet and offloads in the Wallabies, valuable qualities. Perhaps only QC (Quade Cooper) and Gits in same class for these skill sets, although I think JO'Cs natural stepping above either of those two.

Gits isn't going to be around forever, and neither might QC (Quade Cooper) after July!

Problem is
a) the rest of JO'Cs game has a way to go
b) 15 not the right spot for that particular skill mix IMO

So question is, was the early development year worth it? With what else we got, I'd say yes.

(he also seems to be a pretty decent goal kicker?)

 

[Lindommer]

c) he's too bloody small to play anywhere other than halfback.

 

[Gagger]

According to Rugby.com.au:

Gits 178cm
Ioane 179cm
Hynes 180cm
O'Connor 180cm
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 182cm
Barnes 183cm

And he's probably still growing

According to these we've got small backs, but he's no smaller than the rest

 

[Juan Cote]

Listing Barnes as 183 cm (6ft) is a complete load of shit. He would be flat out being 174 cm ( 5'9").

"

 

[cyclopath]

They used to say Tim Horan was 180 cm - I met him, and he aint! I think they used to list Matt Burke at 183cm too, and that's a bit of a stretch. Maybe in their sprigs? :lmao:
Hey Juan, 5'9" is about 176 by the way, not 174cm. Every cm counts!!

 

[Spook]

Plenty of fight in JOC (James O'Connor). He's a good tackler.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

According to Rugby.com.au:

Gits 178cm
Ioane 179cm
Hynes 180cm
O'Connor 180cm
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 182cm
Barnes 183cm

And he's probably still growing

According to these we've got small backs, but he's no smaller than the rest

There is no way he is 180cm - no way
I am 182 and he is considerably shorter than I when we have been together talking, my lad is 184 cm and he towers over JOC (James O'Connor)

 

[Lindommer]

They used to say Tim Horan was 180 cm - I met him, and he aint!

Yer right there. I'm 5'11" (180.3cm), and last time I stood next to Tim he was a good two inches shorter than me.

 

[Reddy!]

I honestly believe O'Connor will grow into one of our best Wallaby backs of the next 10 years. The kid is special and is more skillful than Beale and Cooper.

I think he hasn't really been able to play his natural game this year for the Wallaby having been lumped at fullback due to there being no body else. Had he been playing Inside Centre or used from the bench effectively, he probably would have had a more successful year.

I would love to see a highlights package of James from 2009, contrasting his best moments and worst. He had some very very good touches this season, but also some damn right awful moments.

 

[waratahjesus]

he has potential thats for sure reddy, but i dont think comparing him to cooper or beale matters, he doesnt seem like a playmaker to me at all, he is a finisher through and through and shouldnt be mentioned in the same breath as them. Currently his play at 12 doesnt fit into how the national team plays, couple with that his attitude in defence for the wallabies and i wouldnt want him there regardless.

in the next ten years maybe, but he hasnt done anything that half a dozen players couldnt have done running off giteau in space at super level and against italy. throw To'omua at 12 for the brumbies and he would look like a killer as well.

 

[Boomy]

If we want JOC (James O'Connor) to be a Wallaby 12, he'll be up against the hardened 12's in the same mold as Nonu - which if I remember correctly didn't end well for a couple of years past -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRJtCrpEf-I&feature=player_embedded


And then there's what the other 12's around the world can do against a bigger defense, let alone a 90kg bloke at 12. Here's the latest offering from up north:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmCr3SQP58E&feature=player_embedded

Not saying that he's going to be a crash ball 12, but there's no denying that he can't avoid contact at an international level. Defenses will be right up on him all day long.

 

[Viking]

I think he'll be 12 of the future for the wallabies. Has potential to steal even giteau's spot. His defence isnt bad, he's like giteau and is great at bootlace tackles. And for his attacking potential, his game-play at 12 could be similar to tim horans! altho its much to early to even compare the two. But the potential is there. Honestly tho i dont think he will live up to it.