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Thread: Where's Wally? With tour rookie O'Connor

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    Where's Wally? With tour rookie O'Connor

    Where's Wally? With tour rookie O'Connor

    October 27, 2008 - 5:26PM



    Teenage Wallaby rookie James O'Connor made the task of looking after a wayward team mascot sound like a labour of love.

    The baby of the 34-man squad, 18-year-old O'Connor has enjoyed a rapid rise this year.

    The Western Force utility back will become the second-youngest Wallaby in history if he plays in one of the five Tests on tour.

    His Super 14 career to date has been limited to just four appearances.

    As the youngest member of the squad, O'Connor has been given the job of looking after the team's stuffed toy mascot, Wally - for the entire tour.

    Previous tours have thrown up numerous tales of kidnapped and stolen mascots finishing up in unlikely places, leaving its minder red-faced.

    Before the team left, baby-faced O'Connor was fully briefed on what to do and what to expect.

    For the media, he tried to put a positive spin on things.

    He said his teammates told him that minding Wally was a good way of breaking the ice with young ladies on tour.

    "Apparently over in France the girls love it," said O'Connor, who will also be escorting Wally in Hong Kong, Italy, Wales and England.

    Berrick Barnes, who looked after Wally during last year's World Cup in France, warned O'Connor to be ever vigilant.

    "He pretty much said, 'hold onto it and don't let it out of your sight, or else it's gone'," O'Connor said.

    "He (Barnes) said he got stitched up a few times and he had to go down and get keys to everyone's room and search them."

    Meanwhile, the versatile O'Connor said Wallaby coach Robbie Deans regarded him primarily as a fullback.

    "I've played games (at fullback) here and there, but not too much, I've played 10 or 12 most of my life," O'Connor said.

    "Speaking to Robbie, he said he wants his fullbacks to provide a running option as a ball player."

    Unlike the vast majority of the squad, O'Connor has already played in Hong Kong where he represented Australia in Sevens.

    While Deans has suggested every member of the squad would get a run on the tour, O'Connor said he wasn't expecting too much and would be "stoked" with any game time.

    He said he just wants to learn from his team mates ...and take care of Wally.


    © 2008 AAP


    http://news.smh.com.au:80/sport/wher...1027-59n9.html

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    Champion lara93's Avatar
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    i hope he dont loose wally!
    im sure he wont!

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    BOKKE
    “Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White

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    Legend Contributor Thequeerone's Avatar
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    I'm sure that Wally will have many adventures - unfortunately we won't get to hear half of them !

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    BOKKE
    “Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White

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    Legend Contributor slomo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thequeerone View Post
    - unfortunately we won't get to hear half of them !
    ah! the joys of a rugby tour...

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    I would imagine the fines for loss of Wally would be unnattractive

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    Wally seems to be growing, we may have found a viable replacement for Trestle!

    Berrick Barnes 2007


    James O'Connor 2008


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    Quote Originally Posted by Burgs View Post
    Wally seems to be growing, we may have found a viable replacement for Trestle!

    Berrick Barnes 2007


    James O'Connor 2008


    If walley is anything like trestle young JOC might be in danger of being eaten.

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    Veteran robyn <3's Avatar
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    does anyone else think of AJ Whalley when they hear about the team mascot? i do... and then i imagine the entire team trying to steal AJ from each other. hehe.

    the big walley would be harder to steal/hide.

    maybe they gave james a super-sized walley so that he grows into a super-sized wallaby!

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    maybe JOC is just really small and wally is still the same size??!!

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    BOKKE
    “Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White

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    I read on Rugby heaven that he has "lost" Wally already!

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    "The rule is that you have to have the mascot with you at all times," O'Connor said. "I've been told the other players try to hide it from you all the time, so you have to be prepared. I was thinking of buying a few more of them to act as decoys."
    Didn't work out in the long run for Saddam...

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    Legend Contributor Thequeerone's Avatar
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    can see the Headlines

    "Rookie bunkered with 8 teddies"
    "James plays with 8 Wallys"
    "Spot the Wally" - picture of JOC with 8 wallys

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    Why didnt they just buy him a Wally Suit to dress up in on Game Day. he can then go buy the beers for the non playing squad members.

    Actually sounds like a great job for Jono for the coming season

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    Legend Contributor Thequeerone's Avatar
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    It's offical - JOC has lost Wally - he has searched all the rooms and can't find it

    rugby.com.au | - on the front page they have a video called "Striding with Stirlo" JOC comes clean on losing the mascot.

    Also another video about Pocock - Sharpie reckons he dyes his hair !

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