Why James O'Connor is the obvious choice to start at flyhalf for the Wallabies
When the Wallabies take the field for their first match of the year this Sunday, a new-look side is expected to lead the charge towards a resurgence of the passion for the sport Down Under, in the post-Michael-Cheika-era.
For the Wallabies to recapture the hearts of the nation and win their first test against the All Blacks across the Tasman since 2001, new coach Dave Rennie is going to have to make some tough, gutsy decisions.
None more so than picking the team’s flyhalf.
With the Australian rugby public desperate for the national side to return to winning ways, the importance of this selection can’t be underestimated. As the team’s quarterback, their go-to point of difference, the Wallabies need to turn to a proven match-winner in big tests.
Rennie has to get this call right.
After a highly successful Super Rugby AU competition, former bad boy of Australian rugby, James O’Connor, appears to be the front runner for the golden 10 jersey ahead of Bledisloe One. To his credit, he’s deservedly earned this favouritism on the back of his form across the past few months, where his decision making and experience so nearly guided a youthful Reds side to silverware.
It was a year of redemption for O’Connor, who has previously had a turbulent career in Australian rugby, where his potential was at times outshone by the headlines he was creating off the field.
Even though his career hasn’t been what many expected it to be when he debuted for the national side at 18, he’s a proven match-winner and again, that’s exactly what the Wallabies need right now as they look to usher in a golden generation.
At just 20-years-old, O’Connor scored a late try and then slotted a sideline conversion on the wrong side to hand Australia a once unlikely, come from behind victory over the All Blacks in Hong Kong. The skill and poise he showed at such a young age, and what we’ve seen since as he’s continued to develop his game, is what the Wallabies need again on Sunday.
But that being said, the jersey isn’t his yet. Let’s take a look at the three other contenders for the starting flyhalf role come the first test of the year.
Noah Lolesio
Noah Lolesio only played three games in an injury-plagued Super Rugby AU campaign, but his return from injury in the final has had fans and pundits calling for his selection in the Wallabies sooner rather than later.
The 20-year-old played what will end up being one of the games of his life in the 28-23 win over the Reds, finishing the night with 13 points scored, four defenders beaten, 35 metres run, and player of the match honours.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGBO7KEgX-2/
Even Dave Rennie suggested late last month that a test debut wasn’t too far away for the up-and-comer.
“Clearly we rate him highly, that’s the reason we picked him prior to that final and he hadn’t played for 10 weeks,” Rennie said.
“They’ve been talking a lot about the game, about the role and yep, he’s got a chance of starting that first test and we’ll see how things pan out.”
While Lolesio is certainly a player for the future, is he what the Wallabies need right now?
For a young guy who hasn’t yet played test match rugby, to be thrown into the test cauldron against the All Blacks in New Zealand, it’d be a lot of pressure to take on. He’s also only played one game since returning from injury.
Lolesio could potentially line up alongside either Joe Powell or Nic White in the halves, who he played alongside at the Brumbies this year. But other than that, the backline will likely be made up of a few other players who he’s never played alongside before – giving the edge in combinations to O’Connor who has plenty of experience alongside other squad members.
While he could potentially sneak onto the bench, it would be a shock to see Lolesio starting at flyhalf on Sunday.
Will Harrison
Just like Lolesio, a similar argument could be made about another exciting prospect in Will Harrison, who started at flyhalf for the Junior Wallabies in last year’s U20s World Championship Final, while Lolesio lined up at 12.
Harrison really stood up in Super Rugby AU, with Kurtley Beatle having left for France, handing the 20-year-old the playmaking reins which he stepped up and handled.
But there’s still plenty of improvement to come in Harrison’s game, especially when compared to O’Connor and Matt To’omua, the other senior option.
Statistically speaking, Harrison had a better points-per-game average than O’Connor, and a better goal kicking accuracy with an incredible 92% across his eight games played. But elsewhere, he had fewer carries, metres run, try assists, and worse tackle accuracy than his Queensland counterpart.
Coach Dave Rennie is keeping his Wallabies on edge ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks.https://t.co/sNJ1XcN6Xx
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Also looking at combinations and balance, there is the potential Waratahs halves combination of Harrison and Jake Gordon, but that seems unlikely. The backline is also expected to be without many, if any, Waratahs players, which could see Harrison struggle.
For that reason, and the development that is still needed from him, Harrison won’t be the Wallabies go-to man come Sunday, at least to start the test.
Matt To’omua
O’Connor’s biggest rival for the 10 jersey is Matt To’omua, who was incredible for the Rebels this year, guiding them to the playoffs for the first time in the club’s history.
But To’omua did play plenty of rugby from inside centre throughout Super Rugby AU, and was arguably the best 12 in the country throughout the competition alongside Irae Simone.
The big reason as to why that was, was his work rate and his patience in attack. He got busy around the park, and in defence, he wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line.
That being said, it’d be tough to compare To’omua to O’Connor statistically seeing that they played plenty of minutes in two different positions. But that in itself is why the Wallabies 10-12 combination should be so clear cut.
These two players should start for the national side regardless, it’s just a matter of which one starts at 10 and which player starts at 12.
O’Connor was the most effective 10 throughout Super Rugby AU, and To’omua was arguably the best 12 – why change that when it’s clearly working for both players? To have any chance of beating the All Blacks this weekend, Rennie needs to be playing to the strengths of his players, and that means rewarding their form through the domestic season.
Possible Wallabies side:
1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga’a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Matt Philip, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Liam Wright, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Pete Samu, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O’Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Matt To’omua, 13. Jordan Petaia/Reece Hodge, 14. Marika Koroibete, 15. Tom Banks
Reserves: 16. Jordan Uelese, 17. James Slipper, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Trevor Hosea, 20. Harry Wilson, 21. Nic White, 22. Noah Lolesio 23. Reece Hodge/Hunter Paisami
Comments on RugbyPass
The best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
2 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
3 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
114 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
2 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
3 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
3 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
114 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
4 Go to comments