Wallabies legend James O’Connor to help playmakers after Australia uses 10 five-eighths in 11 years
James O’Connor was taught harsh lessons of playmaking when he came into the Wallabies fold. After using 10 five-eighths in 11 years, he’s back to help Australian rugby.
Ten five-eighths in 11 years. That’s how many playmakers the Wallabies have used since the British & Irish Lions came to these shores in 2013.
And the man wearing the No.10 jersey for that series, James O’Connor, has made the stunning admission that he “didn’t know s--- about playmaking” at the time.
With Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in the midst of deciding who will be his first five-eighth – Carter Gordon, Ben Donaldson and Noah Lolesio seem to be jostling for the coveted jersey – the constant problem for Australian rugby is not going to be easily solved.
Australia has struggled to find their playmaking answer while their Rugby Championship rivals have had more seamless transitions; the All Blacks moving from Dan Carter to Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga, and the Springboks from Morne Steyn to Elton Jantjies and Handre Pollard - both nations winning two World Cups each with a mix of those players at the helm.
In a strange coincidence, O’Connor could be a key figure in fixing this critical issue.
This year, the 33-year-old has spent most of injury-riddled season mentoring young Queensland Reds playmakers Lawson Creighton, Tom Lynagh and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.
O’Connor, the teenage prodigy who burst onto the Super Rugby scene in 2008, now candidly admits he did most of his learning about being an effective five-eighth abroad.
“I think back to when I first started playing No.10 for the Wallabies in the Lions series, I was a professional player and very good at what I did, I could manipulate defenses, but I knew nothing of the game,” O’Connor told this masthead.
“I didn’t know shit. If something went wrong, I had no idea how to fix it because I was never taught.
“Maybe it took me longer because I played a few positions, but it took me until 28 before I actually understood how to manage a game correctly.
“The little clues of seeing a game, and even feeling your teammates’ energy, it’s not just what I see as a 10, it’s what I’m feeling around me. How many runs have our forwards made, how many kick-chases have we done, are we stuck in our half, do we need to change our kicking game, where are their two fullbacks sitting, do they have a pendulum?
“All these little things, I had no idea about when I first got into 10.
“I was just all about, how can I create space for other players. It’s not really managing the game, you’re just ball-playing.”
After having his contract torn up by Rugby Australia for off-field infringements, O’Connor played a season for London Irish before joining French glamour club Toulon for three years where he learned from Matt Giteau, Ma’a Nonu, Drew Mitchell and Bryan Habana.
“Even in England, playing against Andy Goode, the first time I played fullback he schooled me,” O’Connor said.
“He was just picking me apart in the backfield, making me run all day, like a tennis match, I was just running after the ball all day and it took the sting out of my legs.
“I spoke to him after and he said, ‘We didn’t want you to be fresh because we knew what you could do in counter-attack, so I made you run boy’.”
O’Connor has brought this knowledge to the Reds, and it would be wise of the Wallabies to tap into that knowledge.
“There was a big narrative last year that I’m moving into coaching, and as much as I’m doing coaching to upskill myself and possibly for life after footy, I have definitely got an interest in it, but the mentoring part is what I’m more interested in and where I see my value,” he said.
“What I’ve been doing the last couple of years is what the senior guys did for me.
“When I was at the Force, I got to a place where I just stagnated. Same as at the Rebels.
“Coaches are focusing on the whole team and games plans for the weekend, making sure everything is humming and connecting between each person.
“But how I evolved my game was when I went overseas, I was around senior guys, some of the best in their position, who put energy into me.
“I’d be training and in real time they’d be having conversations with me about manipulating defences.
“I remember drawing up plays and having conversations about how to manipulate the back field, how to close out a game, what does that look like? I had no idea.
“I knew how to run the plays the coaches would give you, but until you really understand what they’re trying to get out of the play and how that fits into the whole package of the game.”
Not only have the Wallabies used 10 five-eighths since 2013, national coaches have constantly dropped, recalled and used different combinations of them all in that time.
Five-eighths used by the Wallabies since 2013
James O’Connor
Quade Cooper
Christian Leali’ifano
Bernard Foley
Kurtley Beale
Matt To’omua
Noah Lolesio
Reece Hodge
Ben Donaldson
Carter Gordon
The constant chopping and changing at No.10 has resulted in Australia’s two worst World Cup results in history in their past two campaigns; being monstered in the quarter-finals in 2019, then failing in the pool stages last year.
“For a long time in Australia, senior guys were going overseas because there were lucrative deals over there, you see in programs all over the world, guys finishing and then coaching, and we probably haven’t had as much of that here,” O’Connor said.
“It would be awesome to see that change.
“We need to nurture the young 10s.
“You need guys to help you, you don’t know what you don’t know.
“I thought I’d mastered the game, or gone as far as I could, when I was 23. I didn’t know a way to improve my game, which is why I got so frustrated.
“Teams pick up your traits, they start double defending you as a running 10. So I thought, ‘I’ll be a passing 10, I’ll work on my kicking’. It’s not until you get wisdom from others that you learn the art of it.
“I’ve played hundreds of games, I’ve played for 18 years straight now, I know what not to do and what to look for. I’ve lost as many games as I’ve won and now my strength is knowing how to get back up, I use that to your benefit.
“Until you can look at yourself and go to those dark places, you’re never going to have the discipline or ability to look at a game and really pull it apart, because you don’t have the patience, the insight, the tools, to really go deep into that.”
O’Connor has struggled with a hamstring injury all year, and finally made his comeback in last weekend’s victory over Melbourne Rebels.
His helping hand to younger rivals is a welcome step in his development.
“Previously I wouldn’t have wanted to help anyone,” O’Connor said, “because, ‘What if they take my spot?’
“Now I see the like younger brothers of mine. I want the best for them all.”
O’Connor, who is off contract and has options to remain in Australia, move to New Zealand or Japan, will make a decision on his future in the next fortnight.
“I just want to be valued,” he said.
“I would love to be in Queensland. I want to utilize my whole skillset; training, game plans, off the field. I’ve really enjoyed this season, even though I haven’t got to play a whole lot, I feel very included.
“I still feel like I’ve good a good few years left, three or possibly four years.”
More Coverage
Join the conversation
Wallabies humiliated by Argentina in worst ever loss
The Wallabies were humiliated by Argentina after opening an early lead in what must go down as one of the darkest days in Australian rugby history, writes Jamie Pandaram.
Read more
Reds sought merger with Broncos
Boss of the QRU says he is prepared to entrust his organisations asset with an NRL club - but not with Rugby Australia.
Read more