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
I agree ..come on keyboard warriors and journalists looking for a cheap win ….. only 2 mins to go 12 points down …this DID NOT decide the game and beside JM was hit after the whistle and in response it was a pat on the back of the head …harmless ….watch soccer if this is your issue
4 Go to commentsRest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
1 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
27 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
27 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
27 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
27 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
27 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
27 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
91 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
27 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
27 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
27 Go to comments