Unsung hero at Sale Sharks
Had the pleasure of watching Saracens being handed their arses by an incredibly hard working and clever Sale side at the weekend ... but an outstanding contribution that appeared to missed by many pundits and indeed commentators was the work rate of James O'Connor.
Many comments were made about the performances of the worlds best 9 atm and the deft touches of Rob Du Preez to put away scoring machines like Denny Solomona. Sale also boast the heavy lifters up front of Rob Webber, Jono Ross and Josh Beaumont. MotM was named as Sam James, who made inroads throughout the game and consistently rounded the tight midfield defence of an intl star studded Sarries side .. that seriously missed Brad Barritt to marshall them all.
However, it was JOC that allowed so much of the Sale possession be constructive, his handling under pressure that allowed movements and phases to continue without a momentum thwarting breakdown was exemplary. The hard work of taking on contact but more importantly making himself available on the shoulder to take it in and consolidate possession was all there.
If a clear out was needed, he went in without hesitation and played a full game of pretty much every aspect of total rugby.
Sale had to work very hard for the win and the clever channels they took in attack caught Sarries out, but the defence was amazing with good, level line speed and ferocious hits, not the big hits that a Tuilagi may wait for, but every hit that needed to be made, was made.
JOC was an unsung hero of this performance with real grit and hard work and whilst this run of performances for a completely non glamour club continues, it's the work of the team that makes the differences, the combined work of individuals putting themselves in the firing line that produces the wins in the battles, that make up the right result for the overall war. JOC was heading up and over the top every time for his team, he was most certainly my MotM.
