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'I hadn't heard the best reports' - Brad Thorn details grilling of James O'Connor

By Online Editors
Brad Thorn prepares to tackle James O'Connor

James O’Connor was blessed with the speed and step to evade Brad Thorn when they were Bledisloe and World Cup rivals.

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But there was no escape for the supposedly repentant 29-year-old when he fronted the now Queensland Reds coach in a bid to cement another return home, and possible Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan.

Thorn, the craggy dual international, had to be convinced O’Connor’s desire to make amends at Queensland was genuine before a two-year contract was confirmed.

The former All Black lock had already jettisoned Karmichael Hunt and James Slipper – two key players blighted by cocaine issues – while Quade Cooper also headed south after Thorn deemed the maverick playmaker did not fit his cultural revolution.

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So Thorn faced some obvious questions at Ballymore on Wednesday when he justified O’Connor’s recruitment two years after the utility back was arrested for cocaine possession in Paris.

“It was an interesting one …” Thorn confessed.

“I’d never met James outside playing against him.

“I knew he was a good footballer but perhaps I hadn’t heard the best reports in the past.”

After the pair met for coffee, O’Connor, who had a frustrating season-long homecoming in 2015, was then grilled by Thorn’s fellow coaches and the Queensland board.

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“We talked about footy, we talked about life and probably the thing that impressed me the most was he didn’t shy away from hard questions,” Thorn said.

“We were pretty direct and there was no shuffling or anything. When you see a guy front, talk through things and look you in the eye it’s a positive thing.”

O’Connor admitted he was neither physically or mentally capable during his last sojourn at the Reds, a move designed to culminate in a Wallabies recall for the 2015 World Cup.

The 44-Test veteran then returned to Europe, where he was exemplary during a two-year stint with Sale in England, according to coach Steve Diam ond.

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“His leadership with the footy stuff and mentoring some of the young guys was good to hear,” Thorn said.

“I think he’s learnt some hard lessons and if he can come to a place with that sort of stuff it can be a real strength in impacting on others.

“It seems the last two years have been a turning point for James.”

Thorn conceded the acquisition of O’Connor, who is with the Wallabies in Johannesburg ahead of the Rugby Championship opener on Sunday (AEST), given the exile of Slipper and Hunt was a reasonable talking point.

“It sort of painted me as a hard liner. You know, someone does something wrong: ‘Boom, gone.’

“I’m pleased where they landed and pleased they’re going well,” he said.

“I guess this is another opportunity for James. We all like a redemption story.”

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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