James O'Connor has courage and technique to tame Lions - Grey

NATHAN Grey has defended the tenacity of Rebels playmaker James O'Connor and says giant Lions midfielders will be wasting time targeting him.

FORMER Wallaby hardman Nathan Grey has defended the tenacity of Rebels playmaker James O'Connor and says giant Lions midfielders will be wasting time targeting him.

O'Connor, who was this week named as the only five-eighth in the first Wallabies squad, has become embroiled in the heated debate surrounding the defensive capabilities of his mate Quade Cooper, who was contentiously omitted by Robbie Deans.

Responding to Deans' call for Cooper to defend in the front line, Reds coach Ewen McKenzie backed his five-eighth's tackling and questioned O'Connor's mettle.

"What happens when they run over him? He got speed-humped the other day. What was that?'' McKenzie said.

McKenzie was referring to O'Connor being tossed aside by Blues centre Rene Ranger, but Grey  now an assistant coach at the Rebels  explained O'Connor had suffered a sterno-clavicular injury moments before and simply attempting the tackle was courageous.

"He did an injury that most blokes usually come off straight away with, he stayed on the field to see if he could keep going,'' Grey said. "Unfortunately they made a linebreak and he's tried to get in front of Rene Ranger with one arm, and that was the result.''

Grey, who was the Wallabies' tough-tackling no.12 in their 2001 series victory over the Lions, said he had no doubts about O'Connor's defensive starch.

"He's certainly someone attackers do underestimate. When he gets his technique bang-on, he can drop anyone, no problems whatsoever,'' Grey said. "He enjoys tackling, because he knows people want to target him and it's a challenge for him. He is a powerful little bloke.''

The defensive stats of O'Connor and Cooper have rattled around this week, backing a wide variety of arguments.

But while he regards efficiency as crucial, Grey also points to the character that saw O'Connor try to tackle Ranger, or get back in the line after lacerating his liver against NSW last season.

"He hates coming second. That's a really good attribute,'' Grey said. "If you have Jamie Roberts and (Manu) Tuilagi, they're going to present some threats. But on the other side of the coin, they're going to present some opportunities as well. I have no doubt if James is selected at ten, he would more than get the job done.''

Staunch support for O'Connor doesn't mean Grey endorses Deans' view on Cooper's defensive positioning, however.

"It doesn't really matter who defends where, as long as they get the job done,'' Grey said. "It's just tactical. Depending on what your coach wants to do, Ewen has changed their set-up around to have (Cooper) in the line sometimes, sometimes not. To me, as a coach, you want to be tactically smart and use your players the best way you can.

"It has to be what's best for the team. You even look at the Waratahs, they have (Bernard) Foley  their ten - off lineouts he defends in the tramtracks, or at fullback. He's not in the front line, they put Hooper in the front line there.''

O'Connor remains in major doubt for the Rebels tomorrow night in Melbourne when they host the Waratahs, but former NSW star Grey said confidence is still buzzing at the club after beating the Stormers last week, and pushing the Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders before that.

"The result last week is something that confirms to the guys when we get things right, we can trouble anyone in the competition,'' Grey said.

"The Waratahs, yes, we are 0-5, but that's just more fuel to the fire. We are going to put a plan together that if we execute perfectly, we have belief we can come out on top.''