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How James O'Connor could form one of Super Rugby's most lethal partnerships with Suliasi Vunivalu

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

James O’Connor wants to do more damage with his boot and it could have direct spin-offs for Suliasi Vunivalu as the former NRL winger eyes a belated Super Rugby AU debut for the Queensland Reds.

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The two-time NRL premiership wide man missed the Reds’ 41-7 defeat of the NSW Waratahs on Friday after he was stood down by the club following an altercation with a hotel security guard that saw him charged with common assault.

Expected to find a spot in a stacked backline, or at least come off the bench, to face the Rebels at Suncorp Stadium, Vunivalu stands to benefit as O’Connor works another dimension into his game.

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The Wallabies No.10 admitted he needed to improve his in-game kicking and is keen to better exploit the 22/50 or 50/22 kicking rule brought in last season that offers possession back to the team that can execute the kick.

“That’s been a big development to get our team on the front foot in all areas,” O’Connor said of his intent to kick.

“I broke through the fundamentals with [internationally renowned kicking coach] Dave Alred, but now it’s about spotting space and identifying and putting the right kick in at the right time.”

The 50/22 came off once against the Waratahs and led to a try while another came close, and two cross-field bombs to flying wingers ensured defenders had to be wary of balls being kicked in behind them.

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With a Wallabies-laden backline and a ball-playing back row that enjoys space to run, O’Connor knows even the threat of a kick can be used to the Reds’ advantage.

“That’s the whole point of these new rules; to open the play up and create quicker footy,” O’Connor said.

“It’s what fans want to see and what we want to play, and teams know we want to throw the ball around, so if they do want to bring players to the front line we can look for corners, short kicks and space behind.”

Vunivalu and O’Connor had already spent time together in Wallabies camp when the Melbourne Storm flyer was invited soon after his NRL grand final heroics.

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He told media on his arrival at Ballymore a few months later that O’Connor had advised him to “stay on his hip”, but the No.10 said it had not played out that way at all.

“He actually came up to me and said ‘what do you need from me?’,” O’Connor said.

“We had a coffee and a chat [when he arrived in Wallabies camp]; he’s very inquisitive, picks up detail quickly, which is great.

“I just said ‘this is the basics of what I need’ and if he can master that straight away our connection will build just like it was able to with Lipo [fellow Wallabies winger Filipo Daugunu last year].”

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DarstedlyDan 37 minutes ago
New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

Italy have a top 14 issue too, that’s true. I doubt SA are overly pleased by that, although it’s countered somewhat by the fact they would expect to thrash them anyway, so perhaps are not that bothered.


The BIL teams are (aside from Ireland) A/B teams - still with many A team players. I would rather the England team touring Argentina be playing the ABs than this French one.


France could have reduced the complaints and the grounds for such if they had still picked the best team from those eligible/available. But they haven’t even done that. This, plus the playing of silly b@ggers with team selection over the three tests is just a big middle finger to the ABs and the NZ rugby public.


One of the key reasons this is an issue is the revenue sharing one. Home teams keep the ticket revenues. If the July tours are devalued to development larks then the crowds will not show up (why go watch teams featuring names you’ve never heard of?). This costs the SH unions. The NH unions on the other hand get the advantage of bums on seats from full strength SH teams touring in November. If the NH doesn’t want to play ball by touring full strength, then pay up and share gate receipts. That would be fair, and would reduce the grounds for complaint from the south. This has been suggested, but the NH unions want their cake and eat it too. And now, apparently, we are not even allowed to complain about it?


Finally - no one is expecting France to do things the way NZ or SA do. We oddly don’t really mind that it probably makes them less successful at RWC than they would otherwise have been. But a bit of willingness to find a solution other than “lump it, we’re French” would go a looonnng way.

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