O'Connor to become Force's young general

[James]

If JOC plays at fullback, who will be 12? Josh Tatupu? Sam Harris? Mitch Inman?

My concern about not playing O'Connor at 12 is that we don't have a very creative 10. If we have centres who just charge at the line, we will not end end being very creative in attack. We'll end up playing games like South African teams - booting the ball upfield and relying on our forwards (who are good but as has been said, not the best in the comp).

There is no reason why, in the last 20-30 minutes of the game, JOC couldn't move to inside centre on attack and exploit a tired defense. He could also still be very involved in set-piece play and just have someone else stand back at full-back.

[mudskipper]

New tactics for the Force... Rabbit and the kick chase boot of Andre...

[Burgs]

If that is the case then James, we may as well have the best Fullback (Shepherd) and bring O'Connor off the bench fresh to exploit those tired legs, rather than having been running around at #15 for the previous 50-60 minutes.
We have far better ability to cover a Wing than Inside Centre.

[James]

If that is the case then James, we may as well have the best Fullback (Shepherd) and bring O'Connor off the bench fresh to exploit those tired legs, rather than having been running around at #15 for the previous 50-60 minutes.
We have far better ability to cover a Wing than Inside Centre.

Yeah I guess so. Seems like a bit of a waste having O'Connor on the bench and I don't know if Cam will be 100% for the game against the Brumbies. I just think that against the Hurricanes and the Brumbies first up that having him at 12 (on defense at least anyway) is a bit crazy.

[KenyaQuin]

I agree with you James, O'Connor at 15 I think the most sensible approach with Sheps at wing. I don't think Sheps at last form is better than O'Connor at 15 however at winger I think he is in the top 2 wingers we have. Put O'Connor at 15, have the opposition scrambbling and give our centres more opportunity to break the gain-line.

Having James at 12 early in a game will reduce our Plan B options later in the game should the need arise.

One of the concerns raised in a previous thread was that the Force needs to settle on its centre combination early in the season (ie, not experiment) otherwise we'll be playing catch up rugby again. I would think the pairing of Harris and Cross would be the combination that we would first try to develop for the season (and if successful, give Sam an extension to his one year contract).

[blueandblack]

I agree with you James, O'Connor at 15 I think the most sensible approach with Sheps at 15. ....

Wanna try again?

[jjk]

KenyaQuin, I think thats a very good idea, give Sam Harris and Ryan Cross the first go at being the centre combination, if its successful extend Sam Harris's contract for another year or 2. I think if these guys play a few games together I think they'll be able to form a pretty good combination. Harris as mentioned before has played abit of 10 for Warringah but 12 is probably his better position. I actually think they were the Australian schoolboy centre combination of 97 with Craig Wing at 10. Also in that team I think were Phil Waugh, George Smith..

[TOCC]

sam harris is a pedestrian player at best, he might be useful for depth, but i would be worried if he were starting

[Rex Messup]

Why the f#@% did we buy harris?
You guys are crazy if you think he's starting material
I was hoping it was a miss print
Good luck to him. Maybe Perth will bring out his best?

[GIGS20]

It's happened before Rexy

Shep was one of the washed up third stingers of our history and now we're talking about him as potentially one of the best in the country in his position!

[James]

It's happened before Rexy

Shep was one of the washed up third stingers of our history and now we're talking about him as potentially one of the best in the country in his position!

Tai McIsaac was a bit the same stuck behind Hardman and Moore. Lots of people on here were very anti Josh Valentine saying that he was the 3rd choice halfback for NSW but he was pretty good for the brief time he was here.

You gotta keep an open mind.

[Rex Messup]

It's happened before Rexy

Shep was one of the washed up third stingers of our history and now we're talking about him as potentially one of the best in the country in his position!

Not at all the same
Shep was a waratah whiz kid who was expected to make the highest grade
Harris is tragic flotsam washed up on rugby's sea of humanity

[brokendown gunfighter]

Not at all the same
Shep was a waratah whiz kid who was expected to make the highest grade
Harris is tragic flotsam washed up on rugby's sea of humanity

aren't we all?

[GIGS20]

Not at all the same
Shep was a waratah whiz kid who was expected to make the highest grade
Harris is tragic flotsam washed up on rugby's sea of humanity

The only difference IMHO is the amount of water under the bridge.....Sure Harris has a lot of miles on the clock, but there still might be some gold in there somewhere. to be fair, I know nothing about him other than what I've read here, but the EWF recruiting machine has done a whole lot better polishing rough diamonds than it has been identifying pre-packaged superstars. Maybe the age thing will be too much, but somebody like Spanner resurrected a stalled Wallaby career at the Force.....I guess I'm saying I'd like to be optimistic.

[mudskipper]

With 11 new players at the Force, Mark Batholmeuz at 12 with his vast experience may be the call. If the Force are going to play a kicking game they'll need a quick back three. Backline should go , 9 Sheehan, 10 Pretorius, 11 Cummins, 12 Bartholomuesz, 13 Cross, 14 Shephed, 15 O'Connor... If all fit..

11 New Players bold
Backs (16): Mark Bartholomeusz, Ryan Cross, Nick Cummins, Sam Harris, Stefano Hunt, Dane Haylett-Petty, Mitchell Inman, James O’Connor*, Chris O’Young, Andre Pretorius, Haig Sare, Brett Sheehan, Cameron Shepherd, Mark Swanepoel, Josh Tatupu, Justin Turner (A).

Forwards (16): Richard Brown, Pek Cowan, Matt Dunning, Tim Fairbrother, Nic Henderson, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Kieran Longbottom, Filipe Manu(A), Ben McCalman, Nathan Sharpe, Richard Stanford, Ryan Tyrrell (A), Ben Whittaker, Sam Wykes.