Force throw O'Connor into five-eighth mix
Force throw O'Connor into five-eighth mix
GREG GROWDEN CHIEF RUGBY CORRESPONDENT
February 5, 2010
http://images.smh.com.au/2010/02/04/...nnor-200x0.jpg Versatile .. the Western Force's James O'Connor. Photo: Getty Images
ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER is the Wallabies' Mr Fix-It, having appeared in four back-line positions last year. At the Western Force this season, James O'Connor is destined to play a similar, valuable role.
Force coach John Mitchell has revealed he is looking at O'Connor to cover the fullback, inside-centre and even five-eighth positions for a province that is expected to be one of the Super 14's more penetrative attacking teams, even though they are rank outsiders.
O'Connor's short but flourishing international career had its highs and lows last season, including being successfully targeted at fullback during the Bledisloe Cup match in Wellington last September. But the Wallabies and Force maintain that with proper management and guidance the 19-year-old has the potential to be a match-winning provincial and Test performer.
Mitchell said he was looking at O'Connor to play either fullback or inside-centre. However, he also included the teenager in a lengthy list of five-eighth contenders, alongside Andre Pretorius, Mark Bartholomeusz, Sam Harris and Stefano Hunt.
Asked if O'Connor would play at No.10, Mitchell replied: ''Only in terms of development, as we are looking at James primarily at 15 and 12.''
Following Matt Giteau's departure to the Brumbies, O'Connor is expected to have a greater say in the running of the Force back line.
How the Force attack will be primarily determined by the approach of the former Springboks five-eighth Pretorius, who during his days with the Lions was renowned for his midfield kicking. But with O'Connor, Ryan Cross and Cameron Shepherd in their back line, adventure is expected.
Whether they become one of SANZAR's pin-up teams by adhering to the edict of playing an entertaining brand remains to be seen. Mitchell admitted to being a little confused about what being ''rugby entertainers'' meant.
''How do you control what's entertaining? You have to earn the right first, as it is more about playing to your strengths than just being entertaining,'' Mitchell said.
''I don't really know what it [being entertaining] means. I know what it means off the field - painting faces, sending out balloons and all those sort of things. Also we don't want the game to go back to what it was like when Super rugby started, where there were basketball scores. We have to get some sort of calibration.''
This season the pressure will be on referees to ensure they do what they have promised, in particular being vigilant in freeing up the tackle area, giving the attacking team a greater chance to play the ball by forcing the tackler to quickly release the ball-carrier.
This has already prompted Stormers forwards, after being heavily penalised at the ruck, to clap their hands over the tackled player in recent trial matches to indicate to the referee they had released him and allowed him enough time to play the ball.
''For the referees, there is always a new fad each year, and they are normally pretty vigilant about it for the first three or four weeks. But you would like that to be constant for the whole competition,'' Mitchell said.
''We do have to change our ways, but it has to be looked after in the middle.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...0204-ng9d.html
