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James O'Connor to become the Wallabies X-factor at fullback
By Eddie Jones
June 19, 2010 Debate rages over James O'Connor's best position, but his finish to Super 14 and this first month of the international season have confirmed the fullback jumper fits very snugly.
His best attribute is his world-class running. He is quick and sharp, and has a nose for space.
With the new insistence on kick-chase defenders being onside before going forward, space for kick-return gains from poor kicks has really opened up and O’Connor at fullback gives the Aussies a real X-factor.
Smaller players such as O'Connor and new Springbok Gio Aplon, who is just 74kg, have come back into their own. Their ability to beat defenders one-on-one in space is invaluable.
An interesting stat from the early Tests is the high percentage of tries from kick-return and turnover ball - 80 per cent of the All Blacks' tries, 70 per cent of the Wallabies' tries and 63 per cent of the Boks' tries are coming from unstructured possession.
So while set-piece possession is important, the ability to attack with shape and motion from unstructured ball has grown in significance.
O’Connor has a reasonable kicking game but needs to improve his consistency in high-ball catching to be the full package there.
Adam Ashley-Cooper's future would appear to be suited to outside centre, where he can use his strength to dent the defence like another Stirling Mortlock.
The Aussies were decimated in the scrums by England in Perth last weekend, but the tactical nous of the English was so lacking they could not take advantage.
The Poms have a strong scrum and a good lineout. They should try to play the game from set pieces, play to their strengths.
They should be playing Jonny Wilkinson tonight, not having him sit on the bench.
He could kick to contest or to the corners. The Poms need to keep the phase play low and use direct ball runners such as Mike Tindall, Shontayne Hape and Nick Easter to crash over the gain line.
England are too confused to do this, which has allowed the Aussies the luxury of being so poor at scrum time.
The blooding of the young front row is admirable, and the benefits to the Wallabies will be seen in three or four years when prop Ben Daley and co will be fine Test players.
A World Cup just 14 months away is too close, so the scrummaging will need to be fortified or it will be exposed. Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander are needed back from injury.
The Springboks, for instance, will not let the Wallabies off the hook like the Poms have.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...016959,00.html