AUCKLAND, 13 Sept. – James O’Connor is not guaranteed a place in Australia’s starting XV against Ireland on Saturday despite an impressive display in the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup opener against Italy.
The 21-year-old was quick to make his mark off the bench, sparking the attack and crossing for a try 10 minutes after taking the field in the second half.
While coach Robbie Deans said after the match O’Connor “made a difference”, his colleague David Nucifora said O’Connor’s place in the starting XV against Ireland was not guaranteed.
“We’ll consider that, just like we’ll consider other options as well,” Nucifora, Australia’s coaching co-ordinator, said on Monday.
“I think it’s good if everyone’s putting pressure on everyone else. If we’re too settled people will get comfortable, so we don’t want to be too settled.”
Otherwise, Nucifora was as impressed by O’Connor’s performance as Deans. “He did well,” he said. “He got himself involved in the game quickly, which was great to see.
Hungry to impress
“He’s that sort of player, even though he’s playing on the wing he comes in looking for work and looking for opportunity. He wants to get himself involved and he did that really well.
“I think he’s just a good footballer, he sees opportunity in a game really well and that’s what he did (Sunday) and I suggest that he was probably a little bit hungry to go well and impress.”
O’Connor lost his starting place in the Wallabies’ line up for disciplinary reasons after he failed to attend Australia’s World Cup squad announcement last month.
He was dropped for Australia’s last Tri Nations match against New Zealand, and Deans opted to retain the starting XV that beat the All Blacks for Sunday’s match against Italy, naming his young charge on the bench.
The coaching staff encourage healthy competitionin the squad. “Every player gets a chance, whether it be off the bench or in some of the other games – it keeps applying pressure to the guys who are getting run-on positions,” said Nucifora.
“We’ve got a squad of 30 here which we have to use wisely – which is what we’re trying to do to try and get the best out of all of our players.”
RNS omg/aa/ig/sg
