Former Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones says James O'Connor must be No.10 against Lions

WALLABIES great Nick Farr-Jones has declared James O'Connor must be given the No.10 jersey against the Lions.

WALLABIES great Nick Farr-Jones has declared James O'Connor must be given the No.10 jersey against the Lions, and O'Connor has vowed to stand up to the pressure if handed the key role.

While O'Connor usually starts at fullback for Melbourne Rebels and Kurtley Beale at five-eighth, Farr-Jones says they should swap positions for the Wallabies.

O'Connor has the inside running as the only player named as a five-eighth in the Wallabies' 25-man squad, although Beale's presence at training this week - although he is not an official part of the squad - has thrown up the possibility coach Robbie Deans wants him at No.10, given Beale is the incumbent five-eighth.

But Farr-Jones yesterday said O'Connor is the man for the hot seat. "I suspect Deans will probably go with O'Connor, I think he's the safer bet," Farr-Jones said. "Despite not being the biggest guy, he can drag us over the gain-line, which is critical.

"I expect Kurtley to be in the team, but my thinking is at No.15, that's where I think he should go. I think Beale is better in more open space. I think Beale should be fullback, on the basis he's got confidence back."