We’ve become accustomed to putting Force victories down to the brilliance of Matt Giteau, but as this season has moved on, so a new star has risen for Western Australia – James O’Connor. So far in my mind he was still really in the ‘talented kid making a cameo’ role, but with this game he’s started to take centre stage.
In putting these highlights together, what I came to notice on top of all the skills and awareness is the work rate. Whether it’s chasing the charge down with Gits, tackling the big boys around the rucks in the dying minutes, making a second effort on Metz (who was the second guy he was marking) or making himself available for another pass to finish off the move, he was always there.
I’d go close to saying he was more responsible for this victory than Gits, who seems to be shaping up as a bit of a role model for the young prodigy. What might a Beale give for that guidance?
Speaking of young prodigies, I couldn’t resist slipping in a few snippets of David Pocock’s work, in case you’re wondering what they’re doing there!
Tags: david pocock, james o'connor, matt giteau, video analysis, video highlights, youtube
Matt a.k.a Gagger or GAGR (short for GreenAndGoldRugby, not a fetish)
Matt started G&GR just before the 2007 Rugby World Cup and has been enslaved ever since. You can follow him on Twitter here http://www.twitter.com/Matt_Gagger 
Fantastic compilation. Great rugby highlights. Kudos.
I am quite genuinely amazed at how JOC has come on this year. Its really quite astounding given his age. And the fact he was in the Australian Schoolboys team just 2 years ago – in fact only on the bench!!
But question, compare his form to Rob Horne last year? Better or same? Its fair to say, despite a promising start (and injury now), Rob hasn’t had the year we might have hoped.
What I’m saying is, he (they) are undoubtedly talented, the key is producing it consistently.
Agreed that Rob hasn’t had a stand-out year. Many factors I would think, we could come up with heaps of reasons why.
I’m hoping JOC and Horne both kick it up a notch for the Tests, off the bench or wotnot. That’s assuming Horne gets in the squad, which might not happen. Smith is looking good for a spot.
I don’t think it’s a fair comparison between O’C and Horne. Horne hasn’t played as well this season, irrespective his debut is not on par with O’Cs anyway.
O’Conner had a commanding game against the Barbarians last year, and showed he wasn’t short of confidence.
Horne is a long way behind the pace- especially with our current wealth of riches in the centres.
You would be hard pressed to brake up the giteau-JOC combination. Wouldn’t like to be Robbie Deans at the moment.
Great for Aus though
Briliant video
boy he is good
Nice video! I would put JOC well ahead of where Rob Horne was. JOC is performing well in a sometimes struggling team.
Will be interesting to see how the departure of Gits affects his S14 form though. You always have to have an eye on Gits in D but without him there it exposes JOC a lot more.
Horne was playing in a team with a forward pack that nearly always gave the backline good ball going forward.
Either way, both great players and will hopefully have a good future with the Wobblies.
Great vid. He really is class – only a matter of time until he makes a position his own. What will that position be though??
He should be 10/12/15, I predict he’ll start on the bench and come on where needed. The Wallabies need some brashness back in the backline.
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I reckon he’ll be the long term number 12.
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I actually think FB might be his thing – at least half his runs in that vid are FB style injections into the line from deep.
And the second-grab ankle-tap on Metz was brilliant, he is regarded by some as possibly the fastet wing in S14 (JC probably has a view on this!) so a real achievement to bring him down like that.
As for Horne, he never looked as good as JOC does now, if he did NSW might be scoring tries.
I’ll fence-sit on this one and say it’s too early to tell. With Barnes and Tyrone the likely candidates for 12, I can see JOC getting more game time at 15 (especially now that Gerrard has headed North), so he might naturally grow into that. Either way, he’s a great runner, both from deep and from flat, and he provides the sort of flair we need from a second playmaker, whether it’s at 12 or 15.
Can’t see him getting much time at 10, as he’s at best third on the pecking order behind gits and buns.
A bit off topic, but here’s what helmet had to say about the Wallabies 10 jersey: http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/04/28/wallabies-question-answered-by-barnes-storming-game/
J’OC 12 and Barnes 15? I like the sound of that. Barnes has the D and the boot for it.
Good call, the idea was thrown around a bit last year and I always liked the sound of it. My only question would be whether he’s got the running game from deep? Like you said though, rock solid D and kicking game.
Yeah – great stuff.
When you’re doing that much work, you’re going to create and score tries.
And what great examples of support play too. Too often we seem to see that missing in aussie sides of late – i.e. one guy will hit it up and either no support or, when the initial guy is tackled, he’ll think “that’s my job done – now let’s see what the rest of my team do”. Instead O’Connor is getting back up to rejoin the play, chasing kicks, etc.
I like Barnes at 12 a lot for his defence, a lot of traffic goes through that channel from forwards and backs and Barnes is solid as rock. O’Connor maturing well and 15 could be his best bet for the wallabies — not quite as intense in defence there as at 12. But i’d be interested to see how barnes would go at 15, anyway, just not sure about his running game.
What’s you blokes opinion on O’Connor’s franchise for next year, force or brumbies? i think gits wouldn’t mind having his paddawan alongside him back at the brumbies, but there he’d be competing with tyrone smith. and with hougaard coming to the brumbies, o’connor could still continue his education at the force?
Can you UPload this video to youtube¿¿¿ Thanks