Ewen McKenzie defends James O’Connor’s attitude and denies he’s been guaranteed Wallabies selection
EWEN McKenzie has denied reports that James O’Connor demanded a guaranteed World Cup spot to return to Australia.
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WALLABIES coach Ewen McKenzie has denied reports that James O’Connor demanded a guaranteed World Cup spot to return to Australia.
McKenzie said O’Connor’s decision to leave a rich contract with Toulon signals an improved attitude.
O’Connor was revealed as a new signing for the Queensland Reds on Friday night. But unlike fellow recruit Karmichael Hunt, the ARU did not give him a financial top-up.
Playing in exile with Toulon, O’Connor reportedly demanded a spot in the Wallabies squad for next year’s World Cup from McKenzie or he’d stay with the French champions.
An unnamed source told L’Equipe: “James has two options. Either McKenzie guarantees him a place in the squad for the World Cup … or James feels that he is being recalled simply to make up the numbers, with no guarantees, in which case he will stay at Toulon.”
McKenzie on Sunday scoffed at the report before flying to Perth, where the Wallabies will play the Springboks on Saturday.
“Anyone who knows me, they don’t get any guarantees out of me about anything,” McKenzie said.
“How that’s been reported, I know that’s not his mindset because I have spoken to him. It doesn’t transfer to guaranteed selection.
“You can ask anyone in the whatever-it-is years I have been a coach, no one gets guarantees in terms of selection. You have to earn your way in and that’ll be done next year.”
McKenzie said he had spoken or texted O’Connor “once a month” since his departure last year but only spoke contracts last week after his deal with the Reds was done.
The Daily Telegraph understands, however, that a conversation about the World Cup did occur between McKenzie and O’Connor several weeks ago when the 44-Test back had to confirm his intentions with Toulon.
O’Connor sought an assurance his past wouldn’t count against him when it came to World Cup selection, which McKenzie obliged.
“We will assess on what we see, in the end,” McKenzie said about change in O’Connor.
“It will become obvious where he’s up to. I have heard nothing untoward since he’s been over there, that I am aware of.
“The World Cup is in September, so it’s January through to the September for everyone, for the whole Australian rugby fraternity, in terms of doing the right thing. We know that he can function at Test level and make a difference, it’s just a matter of him playing, coming back and putting his credentials forward.”
O’Connor will return in January and play for the Reds on a two-year deal, leaving behind a lucrative weekly deal at Toulon. It is unclear if he will return to Toulon in 2016 but McKenzie is impressed by O’Connor’s willingness to forego the easy option of a healthy weekly pay packet for a shot at Wallaby redemption.
“That tells you his motivation is in the right space,” he said.
“So that’s an important ingredient. And then you obviously have form.”
Originally published as Ewen McKenzie defends James O’Connor’s attitude and denies he’s been guaranteed Wallabies selection