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Star playmaker's challenge to Reds teammates ahead of 'moment-defining' Sharks clash

(Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)

Last Saturday’s 10-try flogging of Japan’s Sunwolves is just the start of what Queensland Reds playmaker James O’Connor believes the Super Rugby franchise can achieve.

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O’Connor was in top form in the No.10 jersey at Suncorp Stadium as the Reds picked up their first 2020 win, an emphatic 64-5 victory.

The 52-test Wallaby says the record-breaking performance shows what the Reds are capable of and has him dreaming of bigger things.

Continue reading below…

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“We want to do something this season and it’s very possible with our confidence,” O’Connor said.

Having led in the second half of their three previous matches before falling to defeat, Saturday’s big win was an important step for the Reds.

O’Connor is now challenging his teammates to back up the performance this Saturday at home against the Sharks.

The South African team has won three and lost one so far and 29-year-old O’Connor is in no doubt about the importance of the fixture.

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“This is moment-defining in our season,” he said.

“It’s just about progressing and building from this win because there was some great positives.

“We threw the ball around well and we stuck to game plan well.

“Obviously the boys have probably seen the highlights reel and whatnot but for us to keep grounded, there’s little things we need to work on.”

– AAP

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Flankly 1 hour ago
'Absolute madness': Clive Woodward rips into Borthwick in wake of NZ loss

Borthwick is supposed to be the archetypical conservative coach, the guy that might not deliver a sparkling, high-risk attacking style, but whose teams execute the basics flawlessly. And that's OK, because it can be really hard to beat teams that are rock solid and consistent in the rugby equivalent of "blocking and tackling".


But this is why the performance against NZ is hard to defend. You can forgive a conservative, back-to-basics team for failing to score tons of tries, because teams like that make up for it with reliability in the simple things. They can defend well, apply territorial pressure, win the set piece battles, and take their scoring chances with metronomic goal kicking, maul tries and pick-and-go goal line attacks.


The reason why the English rugby administrators should be on high alert is not that the English team looked unable to score tries, but that they were repeatedly unable to close out a game by executing basic, coachable skills. Regardless of how they got to the point of being in control of their destiny, they did get to that point. All that was needed was to be world class at things that require more training than talent. But that training was apparently missing, and the finger has to point at the coach.


Borthwick has been in the job for nearly two years, a period that includes two 6N programs and an RWC campaign. So where are the solid foundations that he has been building?

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LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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