Commitment no issue on tour

[travelling_gerry]

By RugbyWA Media

Coach Richard Graham

Emirates Western Force coach Richard Graham has rubbished suggestions made in a newspaper article on the weekend that ongoing contract negotiations with young star James O’Connor had any bearing on his availability for the club’s tour to New Zealand and that he ‘failed to answer an SOS’.

O’Connor was ruled out with neck and shoulder soreness following the club’s match against the Brumbies in Perth a fortnight ago and missed the opening game of the NZ tour against the Hurricanes last Friday.

Following a week of training in Perth, O’Connor and his fellow injured team mates were assessed again by club medical staff and a decision was made to keep them in WA to allow additional recovery time.

“James has a strong desire to pull on the Emirates Western Force jersey and represent the club to the best of his abilities every time we play. I have never seen anything in the way he goes about preparing himself to suggest otherwise,” Graham said.

“Any inference that he ‘failed to respond to an SOS to join the team in New Zealand’ is a complete fabrication.

“I was in contact with James the day after our match against the Hurricanes and spoke to him, and the other boys in Perth, about their recovery.

“James was keen to get back playing but after consulting the medical team we all agreed that another week of rest would get him back to 100% and allow him figure prominently in our final two matches of the season.

“The fact contract negotiations are ongoing has nothing to do with team selection, that’s not the way I run the team and it’s certainly not how James goes about things.”

The Emirates Western Force has enjoyed a solid week of preparations in Dunedin with all of the 23-strong squad fit and healthy and determined to make it four wins in a row against the Highlanders.

The match day squad will be announced on Wednesday.

http://www.westernforce.com.au/NewsE...1/Default.aspx

[kipper_mckinnon]

JOC was certainly "fit" enough to hold a glass at the Oxford on Friday

[travelling_gerry]

He's good. I wasn't capable of holding a glass much after 5pm on Friday.

[kipper_mckinnon]

me too and I had to hold myself back from asking him whether he thought it would be a good idea to play outside Stannard next season

[WF1964]

I hadn't read the aforementioned article so wasn't aware of those suggestions until now and what a complete load of rubbish it sounds like.
I'm getting heartily sick of all the James bashing that's been going on surrounding his contract negotiations.
As far as I'm concerned he has always fulfilled his contract duties to the Force to the best of his abilities, it's clear all he wants to do is play rugby.
I have gotten over my initial hurt when the first article saying he was off to the Rebels was printed. I've even put his poster back up on the bedroom door.
In the words of Doris Day - que sera sera.
I hope he stays but if he goes it will be thanks for the memories James and all the best for your bright future.

[Rex Messup]

In the words of Arnie..........hasta la vista baby

[brokendown gunfighter]

thats what his wife said to him!

[normie]

Fcuk you asshole

[GIGS20]

I agree with 64, it's not like he's said he's staying and then leaving. It's not like he's lost effectiveness, tried to set up a player revolt and badmouthed the team on the way out. I'm happy for him to stay or go......stay would be better.