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Brisbane – Versatile Wallaby backline player, James O'Connor, is looking forward to his first start on the wing in a Test match when he comes up against experienced Springbok flier Bryan Habana in their Tri-Nations encounter at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of facing Habana,” he said at the Wallaby team hotel on Wednesday.
“I have had a few one-on-ones with Habana in the past. They have been good experiences so far. He is a pretty physical player with good speed on him, But he hasn’t beaten me yet in a one-on-one situation. So far, so good!” he said.
The 20-year old player from the Force was eligible for all three Tri-Nations teams because of his New Zealand-born parents and South African-born grandmother.
O’Connor was a Parramatta Eels rugby league junior in Sydney before switching over to rugby union at 15. He made his debut at the tender age of 18 for the Wallabies and first played for the Force while he was still a 17-year-old schoolboy.
He has played at flyhalf, inside centre and fullback before. This will be the first time in his career that he will start a Test on the wing.
“For now I am just happy to be on the wing. To get a place in the starting team is very special to me. I played in the second half against the Irish on the wing.
“It was different. I guess you work a lot more off the ball on the wing looking for the inside ball. That’s the way the ball is going now these days.
“Wingers need to have a high work rate and at fullback you have a higher defensive work rate,” he explained.
O’Connor believes the Springboks will be hungry for a win coming off two losses against the All Blacks.
“As we have seen in the Super 14 final, the South African teams have the talent. They will definitely be up for the challenge and we are definitely looking forward to it.”
He expects to be tested with a few high balls from the Boks on Saturday.
“Zane Kirchner likes to launch that high up-and-under. So we are expecting a few bombs. But we think we are pretty comfortable in the air and we’ve had a lot of practice as well.
“Ruan Pienaar also likes to launch the box-kick, but we have been practicing the counter attack quite a bit as well.
The youngster believes that Gio Aplon will add renewed impetus to the Springbok attack.
“He’s got some great pace and tricky footwork that’s for sure. He is an exciting fullback as well and will bring a new dimension to what Jean de Villiers had to offer.
“I have spoken a lot to guys like Julian Huxley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Digby Ioane. They have given me a lot of input and advice. Digby has told me about running off Quade Cooper and taking the inside ball.
“The Springboks up and in defence presents an opportunity for intercepts and can also present a danger from the opposition’s side,” he added.
Brisbane – Versatile Wallaby backline player, James O'Connor, is looking forward to his first start on the wing in a Test match when he comes up against experienced Springbok flier Bryan Habana in their Tri-Nations encounter at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of facing Habana,” he said at the Wallaby team hotel on Wednesday.
“I have had a few one-on-ones with Habana in the past. They have been good experiences so far. He is a pretty physical player with good speed on him, But he hasn’t beaten me yet in a one-on-one situation. So far, so good!” he said.
The 20-year old player from the Force was eligible for all three Tri-Nations teams because of his New Zealand-born parents and South African-born grandmother.
O’Connor was a Parramatta Eels rugby league junior in Sydney before switching over to rugby union at 15. He made his debut at the tender age of 18 for the Wallabies and first played for the Force while he was still a 17-year-old schoolboy.
He has played at flyhalf, inside centre and fullback before. This will be the first time in his career that he will start a Test on the wing.
“For now I am just happy to be on the wing. To get a place in the starting team is very special to me. I played in the second half against the Irish on the wing.
“It was different. I guess you work a lot more off the ball on the wing looking for the inside ball. That’s the way the ball is going now these days.
“Wingers need to have a high work rate and at fullback you have a higher defensive work rate,” he explained.
O’Connor believes the Springboks will be hungry for a win coming off two losses against the All Blacks.
“As we have seen in the Super 14 final, the South African teams have the talent. They will definitely be up for the challenge and we are definitely looking forward to it.”
He expects to be tested with a few high balls from the Boks on Saturday.
“Zane Kirchner likes to launch that high up-and-under. So we are expecting a few bombs. But we think we are pretty comfortable in the air and we’ve had a lot of practice as well.
“Ruan Pienaar also likes to launch the box-kick, but we have been practicing the counter attack quite a bit as well.
The youngster believes that Gio Aplon will add renewed impetus to the Springbok attack.
“He’s got some great pace and tricky footwork that’s for sure. He is an exciting fullback as well and will bring a new dimension to what Jean de Villiers had to offer.
“I have spoken a lot to guys like Julian Huxley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Digby Ioane. They have given me a lot of input and advice. Digby has told me about running off Quade Cooper and taking the inside ball.
“The Springboks up and in defence presents an opportunity for intercepts and can also present a danger from the opposition’s side,” he added.
