James O'Connor dumped by Rebels

[Gavin]

not be offering him a further contract beyond the 2013 season

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8811560,00.html

Teams are playing him in the wrong position. He is an out-and-out 12. When he first came on the scene with the Western Force he played 12 outside Matt Giteau.

 

[munstermuffin]

Is it more JOC wants to be a 10 and demands to be played there

 

[nickdnz]

Very interesting - with his attitude I'd not be in such a hurry to select him if I was a SR coach. Obvious talent, but not a 10 - and he and Beale seem intent on squandering their careers anyway.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Attitude?

If he wants to reunite with his BFF Cipriani then I'd take him at Sale in a heartbeat. Rebels are idiots for letting a player of his talents go.

 

[nickdnz]

Attitude?

If he wants to reunite with his BFF Cipriani then I'd take him at Sale in a heartbeat. Rebels are idiots for letting a player of his talents go.

No point in paying a talented guy so much money if he'll only be on the field 50% of the time.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yes.
You honestly saying that Blues/Ospreys wouldn't be better with him at 12 or 10?

 

[nickdnz]

So by that logic do you also think that the umpteen clubs that have ditched Henson are idiots for letting a player of his talents go? And as nickdnz said, if he wants on playing 10 where he isn't really that special, then it may not be worth the bother.

On an unrelated note. Why are so many of the Wallaby backs of the Deans era slight numpties off the pitch? Cooper, O'Connor, Beale and Ioane. Between them they've been arrested for assault or robbery, had alcohol related issues, miss team meetings due to being out late, caused problems for teammates and slated the coach in public. Not the cleverest bunch to say the least, despite being so talented on the pitch. I don't remember this being an issue in the past Wallabies side during the Gregan, Larkham, Roff, Latham era.

I remember an interview with AAC and Drew Mitchell in 2011 which when asked why they perhaps didn't get the media attention that others in the backline did - AAC basically replied along the lines that they don't get the attention because they don't bring negative attention on themselves. Really sums it up for me. No point in having players who put themselves above the team - because they're not the players that will put in the extra effort to win you a competition or series.

 

[Gavin]

You look at O'Connor when he was at the Force and he has a mentor in Matt Giteau inside him. At the Rebels he doesn't have anyone like that and he was signed in order to be their big player and I think this is the real problem. He is still young and doing what most young men would do. Australia don't have a mature fly-half to work with O'Connor and this is unfortunate.

 

[j'nuh]

Would be fuming if I were JOC. You barely ever get public statements saying that a guy won't be offered a new contract. It's put JOC in a very bad negotiation position. He could have spun it as wanting to join another club, but now every club knows that he's goods that another team didn't want.

 

[lynam1104]

I think hes just to talented for clubs to pass up on tbh, of they can get him right and i'm sure some can he's a huge asset. Not at 10 however hes best in the 12 or 14 jersey IMO.

 

[TRF_heineken]

This is apparently not everything...

Since Justin Bieber got death threats, he has been looking for a lookalike to attend functions in his place.

JOC took the offer.

 

[Prestwick]

It is kind of unprecedented to make such a big deal of dumping so much talent. Saracens did when Venter came in but that was a totally different set of circumstances altogether.

JOC will find a new club, probably already has had clubs from around the world badgering him already so he will have plenty of options in Europe and Japan to choose from. I always thought his issue was confidence rather than attitude. He always seems to know what to do and how to do it but he does bottle it too much in high pressure situations.

 

[Gavin]

The Rebels could really have egg on their face is Beale decides to leave as well. It was only a couple of weeks ago that there was talk about him moving to the Waratahs. The Reds would be a good team to O'Connor.

 

[Tony Manx]

He can come to Biarritz and I will pay his 20 euro a week salary as long as he brings Quade Cooper and that lad Beale with him..................the bars and girls here would be very happy and they could not do worse than some we have - in fact they would do well to keep up!!

 

[Larksea]

I actually think he's fine at 10. He needs to sort out his off field issues though. It's true the 10 is under the spotlight more than any other position and you simply can't have a 10 that is out clubing at 4am or constantly involved in "incidents" Beale is the same...

Barnes is the ideal player and it's hard to believe he's only 27 as he's been around forever. But he can hardly put 2-3 games together without needing a rest. Also prone to the odd silly call, was a game recently may have been a super rugby game where his team got a very kickable penalty to win the game right on full time and he stepped in and did not even prepare to kick properly. He literally just put the ball on the tee and kicked it in like 10 sec... and missed - very unprofessional.

 

[SelimNiai]

James O'Connor, the Aussie James Hook. A 12 that wants to play at 10 despite it not being his best/natural position

 

[Larksea]

I dunno, I look back when he was at the force and well he basically was the force. When he played 10 and looked every bit a player that could play that position at any level. If he's going to be a 10 thought he needs to play 10 every game at all levels, that's not really happening.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

not surprising at all. it's evident that beale, O'Connor and cooper must be separated, sort of like the teacher used to do to you in highschool when you sat together with your mates.

apparently beale and O'Connor missed the team bus to the game on Saturday night too

*cue Australian rugby revolution* it has to happen

 

[admartian]

I remember an interview with AAC and Drew Mitchell in 2011 which when asked why they perhaps didn't get the media attention that others in the backline did - AAC basically replied along the lines that they don't get the attention because they don't bring negative attention on themselves. Really sums it up for me. No point in having players who put themselves above the team - because they're not the players that will put in the extra effort to win you a competition or series.

AAC is class on and off the field. Underrated player especially outside of rugby forums etc.

You look at O'Connor when he was at the Force and he has a mentor in Matt Giteau inside him. At the Rebels he doesn't have anyone like that and he was signed in order to be their big player and I think this is the real problem. He is still young and doing what most young men would do. Australia don't have a mature fly-half to work with O'Connor and this is unfortunate.

IMO, Dingo Deans placing Giteau in his dogbox was one of the first nails in his coffin.

He had a slump for about a year, but you don't drop them based on that. Class is permanent, and I thought Giteau had class.

This is apparently not everything...

Since Justin Bieber got death threats, he has been looking for a lookalike to attend functions in his place.

JOC took the offer.

+10

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I've felt really lacklustre about beating the Wallabies in the last couple of years, due to them not having their top team on the field.

The last time I remember facing a strong Wallabies team was back when we lost to them in Honk Kong - when Genia, Cooper, JOC, AAC, Digby, Beale etc. were all fit and firing. If the team hadn't been so plagued with self important personalities then I think they easily could've won the last World Cup, and could indeed win the next.