O'Connor to become Force's young general

[welshrugbyfan]

Not really the stink would make you swerve around the roo

Where as you had the option of swervng around or just running straight over Mitchell.

[Burgs]

Or just give him the ball so you get a lineout 5m downfield...

[blueandblack]

NICK TAYLOR, The West Australian January 15, 2010, 10:16 am

Teenage Western Force and Wallaby star James O'Connor is ready to step up into a leadership role with the Super 14 club.

The 19-year-old said taking on a senior role was a priority when he re-signed for Force last year.

"With the likes of (Matt) Giteau and (Josh) Valentine leaving I'm jumping into more of a leadership role," he said.

"I want to keep building on where I am and keep getting involved more and more. I'm excited about this year.

"In terms of leadership I've got to learn. The likes of Andre Pretorius coming through, I'm tapping into that resource already.

"He's an awesome controller of the game and I think that's what we need this year. We've got a great forward pack and he's going to be big benefit to us.

"He's already helping me out so far."

The hottest property in Australian rugby has played most of his rugby for the Wallabies at fullback but is equally at home in the No 12 jumper.

His position with the Force has not been set in concrete but he said: "To be honest I don't really care where I'm playing as long as I can get on the field and get involved.

"At the moment 12, 15 they're both looking pretty good."

He said his Wallaby tour was a learning experience.

"The way I took it this year was it was a learning environment. You're training and playing with some of the best guys in the world.

"I feel a lot more confident for it."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-another-role/

[GIGS20]

"I feel a lot more confident for it."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-another-role/

Holy hell, can we afford for Rabbit to get more confident!

[Burgs]

I don't think you actually step up to a leadership role to learn how to be a leader, especially when there are players over ten years older than you with leadership experience, but anyway, good to hear he is keen and wants to be responsible at least I guess.

[AndyS]

I suspect (hope!) he is talking less about team leadership and more about controlling a backline...

[welshrugbyfan]

Hopefully Sharpe 1st or Pocock for 2nd as a choice of captain will tell thumper politely to piss off down to fullback and they'll captain from the trenches.

If you can't beat the captain in a fight, you can't be captain.

School yard rules still apply in a mans world.

[blueandblack]

I suspect (hope!) he is talking less about team leadership and more about controlling a backline...

same

---------- Post added at 14:49 ---------- Previous post was at 13:50 ----------

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...etter-kicking/

"Force's O'Connor looks to better kicking"

blah blah blah

""I always wanted to stay in Perth. I love the place, it has a good feeling about it," O'Connor said. "All of us guys from the east coast are sort of like a family and the decision was about if we could get guys like Andre and other marquee players to come over."

[The Ethicist]

All this team leadership is a thrashw@nk
When the going is hard, the defence seems impregnable, everyone is knackered, you're behind on the scoreboard...........the leader looks for the ball, stamps his class on the game, makes a half break/a break/scores a try......or the forward makes a massive hit and turns the ball over, steals a lineout against the throw.........and whilst everybody has hands on hips, they make the play that puts you back in the game. It is the desire to be the difference not an academic warm fuzzy at training. Talk is cheap