The thing that 'p****d' James O'Connor off at Toulon
Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor has been reflecting on his time at Toulon and admits to certain selection frustrations while at the star-studded French side.
O’Connor lined out in the red and black of Toulon during two stints between 2014 and 2017 and learned a huge amount from the heavyweight talent employed by the club while he was there.
The Australian would play alongside the likes of fellow Wallabies Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, Springbok flyer Bryan Habana, Fijian wrecking ball Josua Tuisova, French legend Matthieu Bastareaud and All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu – among others.
O’Connor – who suffered two seizures at the club when his off-field antics caught up with him – admits to also learning a lot from wiser heads while in the south of France. The Queensland Red admits that – initially at least – his fellow Aussies were maybe a tad wary of the tearaway maverick and his behaviour on nights out.
“They had fun when they went out. I was reckless,” O’Connor told the Rugby Offload podcast. “At that stage in my career they were probably trying to avoid me. I’d have been bringing them down.
“Especially those two in particular. Drew and Gits were huge for me. They were men. I was still in that boy mindset.
“I hung out with them more and they started showing me what was what. That was the first time I saw the actual balance. These are good men, they’ve got family and they’re playing and they’ve got peace in their lives.
“I’m still connected with those guys as well.”
However, for all the off-field help, O’Connor admits his struggle to get selected for the biggest games as a starter still rankles a little.
“The thing that pissed me off at Toulon was that I could never nail down a starting spot.
“It was some of the best footy I played in my life, playing for them [Toulon].
“Leigh Halfpenny was playing fullback, where I played as well. [Bryan] Habana was on one wing and Josua was on the other wing and in the centres they had Ma’a and Basta [Bastareaud]. So it was like ‘Where do I go?’
“So I was just moving. I played like 10 to 15 in that backline. Some games I would play 10, then next I would play wing, then 12, then fullback, then 13. So I was just playing all over. But having a lot of fun with it.
“They were great minds of the game and once again I learned a lot. I was in a better place where I could start learning a bit more about rugby.
“Instead of playing off instincts and they trying to step people, I learned how to manipulate the back field. When to play this, how to play this, why are you doing these things… I was just asking a lot of questions to these guys. They had all their viewpoints and answers and I just kind of blended them into how I played, which was pretty cool.”
His Toulon teammates left an on-field impression on O’Connor when he was there, listing many of his teammates as some of the best he’s played with.
“Specimen-wise, someone who make something out of nothing? Josua Tuisova. Back in 2017 he just couldn’t be touched.
“As complete players of the game I would say Matt Giteau and Ma’a Nonu for sure. I think Ma’a just had everything. He could do everything. There wasn’t one thing he could do and he could just turn it on when he needed in the big moments.
“Gitts, his understanding of the game and his foot speed. He’s just a fighter as well, for a little fella, **** he goes hard. You could always rely on him. You just knew he’d always do the job.”
Current Reds teammate Taniela Tupou is another player who has bowled over Australia – the 135kg prop able to break games almost at will. “The best thing about Nala is that if there’s a moment in a game, I’ll just look at him and say: ‘Bro, I ****ing need something from you here and he’ll just do something for me. Whether it’s a scrum penalty or he’ll make a break and he’ll run 50 or put a hit on and get us the ball back. He’s just that sort of player.”
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments