James O’Connor ‘knows where it went wrong’ as playmaker sets bold Wallabies target and reveals Joe Schmidt conversation
Crusaders fly-half James O'Connor playing for Wallabies in 2021 and head coach Joe Schmidt.
Experienced playmaker James O’Connor has set his sights on a dramatic Wallabies return after making a successful start to life at the Crusaders.
The 34-year-old was a surprise signing by the Christchurch-based outfit but he made his debut last weekend and helped them secure a 33-25 triumph over the Hurricanes.
O’Connor has also been named in the 23 for their second-round encounter against the Chiefs as they look to build on that victory.
Although the Crusaders itself was a big draw for the Australian, he revealed that there is an added motivation for him this season with the British and Irish Lions series looming.
‘Why can’t I be in the question?’
“That (playing for the Crusaders) was probably the biggest driver but that does play into the fact that I do want to play for the Wallabies in that Lions series,” he told the GBRANZ podcast.
“I am very aware the other guys have got a nod first, but I’m just putting that question out there. If I’m playing well enough and I’m doing a job, why can’t I be in the question still?”
It may have been 12 years since the Lions last toured Australia but O’Connor was a significant part of that series in 2013.
Despite being seen as one of the brightest talents in the country, he was a surprise choice for the fly-half berth back then.
The Wallabies would go down to a 2-1 series defeat, with a 41-16 loss in the decider particularly chastening, but the playmaker hopes to reprise his role when Lions head down under later this year.
O’Connor’s honest fly-half admission
O’Connor, whose last cap came in 2022, made an incredibly honest admission over his understanding of the game in his 20s and how he only really developed as a fly-half relatively recently.
“I know where I went wrong last time in the gold jersey. I didn’t know how to play the game until I was 30. I had only really learned how to play 10 when I came back to Australia and even then I was still raw,” he said.
“I came back as to [the Reds to] play 12. I was not thrown into 10 but was sort of moved into 10. [Former head coach] Brad [Thorn] put me there to steer the ship and that’s when I started understanding the game.
“Even three years ago, I did not have the knowledge I have now in how to run the game and do it better. I made many errors.
“I played a game that didn’t suit me. If I had more of a voice and I had more knowledge, I wouldn’t have run the game that way.
“I couldn’t put my imprint on the game because a lot of it was missing me. All I was, was going to be a 10 sitting in the pocket, and that’s not the way I play.
“I need to get my hands on the ball and create, and get the ball to our best players, but I’ve learned that in the last couple of years.
“If my body is fast enough to do what my mind wants to do then let’s see what can happen.”
Joe Schmidt conversation
O’Connor also revealed that he has been in discussions with Joe Schmidt and where he stands in the Wallabies pecking order.
“The last conversation I had with him was the middle of last year. I don’t want to put other coaches in there that have spoken on behalf of me and whatnot but the last conversation that was had was, ‘Look, we want to give the young guys a shot, go and do what you’ve got to do’,” he said.
“Me going and doing what I’ve got to do is still putting myself in the question. It’s a very slim chance it will happen, maybe the other guys will step up and dominate.
“I just want to show that I’m putting myself in that question and if I’m doing well… maybe I will flop but who knows. We’ll see.”
Schmidt will leave his role as Wallabies head coach at the end of the Rugby Championship but the New Zealander has already made an impression during his short stint, with O’Connor impressed by what he has seen so far.
“The game, especially in Australia, has gone away from rewarding the incumbents. I felt my last five years there, there was so much chop and change that you could never really build combinations,” he added.
“I really like what Joe has done in terms of sticking with one team, showing faith in them and if someone else gets their spot, they have to have four or five poor games and the other guy has to be stepping up big time.
“A full season of Super Rugby, that’s got to throw some doubt in there if you’re doing that well.”
