JAMES OCONNOR

[junior]

You can't generalize on this age issue.
Francois Steyn won a RWC medal a couple of months after his 20th birthday, having earned his first cap for the Boks at 19 only the year before. And his international debut came before he'd played any S14 rugby.

Some guys develop early on, and some take a bit of time.

I happen to think O'Connor has buckets of talent and giving him an extended run was a worthwhile investment.
My personal preference would still be to use him as a sub at this stage, but to be fair, injuries and retirements have probably forced the coach's hand a bit.

And to be fair, Steyn only last started to look like a real test footy player. He had to have his hand right throughout that RWC (so did the bloke inside him) and who could ever forget his little Cameo in Durban that year? It's a shame for SA because just as he's starting to hit his straps as an international footy player, he's farking off to Europe.

 

[PaarlBok]

And to be fair, Steyn only last started to look like a real test footy player. He had to have his hand right throughout that RWC (so did the bloke inside him) and who could ever forget his little Cameo in Durban that year? It's a shame for SA because just as he's starting to hit his straps as an international footy player, he's farking off to Europe.

Agree and a pitty. Always thought 15 will be his position. You dont get the Steyn type going as quick as he did in our rugby with the youth leagues in our CC. Only a few U21s will play senior CC, so Steyn sure a bit of a freak, add all the medals in his cupboard and the early pushing in his career , sure maybe a bit of a mistake.

Understand Deans was the mayor one trying to get Tamooua in our CC. Maybe we'll see more of this happening in future.

 

[disco]

Robbie D's backlines at Canterbury almost always consisted of 2-3 masterful playmakers who set 5-4 bashers running. Those bashers had some skills and pace, too.

I don't mind Barnes, genia & Gits as those 3 can tackle but at least surround them with big ball carriers like Mortlock, Ioane, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) not flyweights like JOC (James O'Connor), Turner & Drew Mitchell.

Although I'd like to see Drew Mitchell at 15 this week against England.

 

[Rugby Rat]

I like JOC (James O'Connor). He will only improve as Barnes did. Keep him in and send Gitts to the bench.

 

[Ash]

Regarding Steyn, he was also very physically developed for a 19 yo. J'OC still has a slight, boyish build waiting to fill out.

 

[Major Spliff Biggins]

I would like to hear Dean's argument for his continued selection.

Does potential and reasonable performances against scratch teams counter his defensive liability and weakness under a high ball?

It is a shame Cameron Shepherd has had such a run of injuries, as he is the best natural full back in Oz rugby...

 

[cyclopath]

Regarding Steyn, he was also very physically developed for a 19 yo. J'OC still has a slight, boyish build waiting to fill out.

Steyn's weakness was in the top 6 inches of his body.
JOC (James O'Connor) has both issues.

 

[Scarfman]

Steyn's weakness was in the top 6 inches of his body.

His hair, you mean?

I agree.

 

[TheRiddler]

J'OC still has a slight, boyish build waiting to fill out.

Hence the keen interest from a certain Sydney radio broadcaster? Talking of whom, did anyone else hear his 'interview' with Malcolm Turbull earlier this week. Classic radio.

 

[Rugby Rat]

I would like to hear Dean's argument for his continued selection.

Does potential and reasonable performances against scratch teams counter his defensive liability and weakness under a high ball?

It is a shame Cameron Shepherd has had such a run of injuries, as he is the best natural full back in Oz rugby...

Could say same about a lot of current Wallabies.

Could say same about about Gitts. Why have we not won anything since he has been our 10 ?

JOC (James O'Connor) is going places. Every fullback 1 on 1 at his age will miss a few. That was not the reason we lost. Failure to take opportunities in the All Blacks 22 and relying on an easy 3 instead of going for 7 are the obvious.

Now, I heard the commentator say JOC (James O'Connor) should have ran the ball due to an overlap in our 22. He took the safe option and kicked for touch. On that note what does our senior 10 do ? Gitts kicks aimlessly centrefield or makes touch. In comparison to Dan who leads from 10 and shows great vision Gitts creates bad habits.

 

[waratahjesus]

I would like to hear Dean's argument for his continued selection.

Does potential and reasonable performances against scratch teams counter his defensive liability and weakness under a high ball?

It is a shame Cameron Shepherd has had such a run of injuries, as he is the best natural full back in Oz rugby...

Could say same about a lot of current Wallabies.

Could say same about about Gitts. Why have we not won anything since he has been our 10 ?

JOC (James O'Connor) is going places. Every fullback 1 on 1 at his age will miss a few. That was not the reason we lost. Failure to take opportunities in the All Blacks 22 and relying on an easy 3 instead of going for 7 are the obvious.

Now, I heard the commentator say JOC (James O'Connor) should have ran the ball due to an overlap in our 22. He took the safe option and kicked for touch. On that note what does our senior 10 do ? Gitts kicks aimlessly centrefield or makes touch. In comparison to Dan who leads from 10 and shows great vision Gitts creates bad habits.

were is JOC (James O'Connor) going?
he has a reputation of running off gits into channels, he is a great backup player, but has yet to prove he has the vision to control attack, is he to be a converted 10 like gits before him?

his tackling on saturday night was the stuff of someone who would prefer not to get hurt than have a try, there was at least two times, one that led to a try were he had a hit and chose not to put it on, he stuck his arms out instead. this to me says he isnt ready, doing that for the next ten tests or whatever and excusing it cos he is young is one thing, but if it isnt addressed and he isnt accountable for his form then he will never bother making those tackles, just watch him sit back and keep fresh so he is ready to take the last pass out wide in attack (if we ever thorw one!)

 

[Lindommer]

...a certain Sydney radio broadcaster? Talking of whom, did anyone else hear his 'interview' with Malcolm Turbull earlier this week. Classic radio.

Next time I read of you listening to The Parrot you'll be in the dock with Naza. Up before a beak that is.

 

[TheRiddler]

Next time I read of you listening to The Parrot you'll be in the dock with Naza. Up before a beak that is.

Happy to report m'lud that I dont listen to Dear Gloria The Feathered One on a regular basis. Got the story and link from Crikey.

 

[Biffo]

Robbie D's backlines at Canterbury almost always consisted of 2-3 masterful playmakers who set 5-4 bashers running. Those bashers had some skills and pace, too.

I don't mind Barnes, genia & Gits as those 3 can tackle but at least surround them with big ball carriers like Mortlock, Ioane, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) not flyweights like JOC (James O'Connor), Turner & Drew Mitchell.

Although I'd like to see Drew Mitchell at 15 this week against England.

Mortlock, Ioane and Cameron Shepherd have been unavailable for quite a while. Do you have any other candidate basher backs who were available for Robbie D to have picked?

 

[Groucho]

It's really amazing that Deans (who has no experience developing the best players in the world, after all) just cannot see what it as plain as day to sooooo many anonymous internet posters. :lmao:

Just imagine how good Carter and McCaw would have been if we had been coaching them!

 

[Scotty]

Regarding Steyn, he was also very physically developed for a 19 yo. J'OC still has a slight, boyish build waiting to fill out.

I don't think JOC (James O'Connor)'s issue is his size, it is most definately his experience. His size didn't stop him missing a cover tackle the other night, as he proved he could do it against the man mountain Spies in one of the bok games.

He just looks nervous. Nervous going for the high ball, nervous going for his clearing kicks. From all accounts this isn't normally a problem for him, but he has certainly lost confidence in the last few months.

I am confident that one day he will be a very good international player. More likely at 12 than fullback though.

 

[Newb]

Regarding Steyn, he was also very physically developed for a 19 yo. J'OC still has a slight, boyish build waiting to fill out.

I don't think JOC (James O'Connor)'s issue is his size, it is most definately his experience. His size didn't stop him missing a cover tackle the other night, as he proved he could do it against the man mountain Spies in one of the bok games.

He just looks nervous. Nervous going for the high ball, nervous going for his clearing kicks. From all accounts this isn't normally a problem for him, but he has certainly lost confidence in the last few months.

I am confident that one day he will be a very good international player. More likely at 12 than fullback though.

i tend to agree that i think most of his problems are in the mental department right now. he's not big by any means, but when he's playing with confidence i always thought he played bigger than his body. this was true in super14 and occasionally at international level. he seems to shrink back too much against the AB's in particular and it affects his overall game. growth will help, but confidence is what the bloke needs more than anything.

he may not come up to speed on the EOYT, but if he can put a good season together with the Force, i see him coming back in a big way.

 

[Biffo]

It's really amazing that Deans (who has no experience developing the best players in the world, after all) just cannot see what it as plain as day to sooooo many anonymous internet posters. :lmao:

Just imagine how good Carter and McCaw would have been if we had been coaching them!

They might have become good players? ..... rather than all-time greats

Yeah and the same anonymous posters are all better journalists than the blokes who get paid by newspaper owners. :lmao:

Never forget: there is only one thing on this planet that amateurs do better than professionals.

 

[Scarfman]

Never forget: there is only one thing on this planet that amateurs do better than professionals.

:nta: You've got me thinking biffo.

It's really amazing that Deans (who has no experience developing the best players in the world, after all) just cannot see what it as plain as day to sooooo many anonymous internet posters. :lmao:

It's not just anonymous internet posters, it's also professional pundits and ex-coaches, etc.

Robbie had an amazing record with the Crusaders, and a fairly poor record with the ABs. For mine, he has read one too many management books and is not coaching this side very well.

And I'm allowed to disagree with his youth policy outright.

 

[disco]

Mortlock, Ioane and Cameron Shepherd have been unavailable for quite a while. Do you have any other candidate basher backs who were available for Robbie D to have picked?

Tuqiri but we shifted him & he was rarely injured.

So to answer your quesion "no" we are a nation of lightweights no wonder we continue to get smashed.

What happened to the Nathan Greys, Matt Burkes, daniel Herberts, Tim Horans, Joe Roffs, and Ben Tunes of OZ rugby? The days of the big boppers.