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James O'Connor

Where do you want James O'Connor to play for the Wallabies?

  • Fly-Half

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Inside CentreW

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Wing

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Fullback

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .

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S

Swans120

Norm Smith Medallist
Dec 14, 2008
6,351
10
AFL Club
Sydney
Other Teams
Manly, Waratahs
Where do you want to see JOC play for the Wallabies? Where would he be best with the RWC at the end of the year? He's doing a very good job for the Force at 10, showed how good he is as a winger last year and has played 15 and inside centre with aplomb already in his very young career.

As a side, what would you want the backline to look like given JOC is playing in the position you vote for?

I would love to see him at 12, especially now that Ioane is back to full fitness and ready to take back his winger spot. The only possible question mark is whether JOC and Quade can hold up in defence in the midfield.

Imagine a backline of:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. JOC
13. AAC
14. Ioane
15. Beale

20. Burgess
21. Barnes
22. Horne/Turner

That starting backline could do some serious damage.
 
I agree with you, I think 12 is his best position. He could be another Tim Horan for the wallabies. JOC is a good defender so I don't think there'd be a big difference in defense if you picked him ahead of Barnes, but in attack I think JOC is clearly the better player. Horses for courses though. I think in some conditions Barnes may be the better option (he has a better tactical kicking game for example).
 
Swans120 said:
Where do you want to see JOC play for the Wallabies? Where would he be best with the RWC at the end of the year? He's doing a very good job for the Force at 10, showed how good he is as a winger last year and has played 15 and inside centre with aplomb already in his very young career.

As a side, what would you want the backline to look like given JOC is playing in the position you vote for?

I would love to see him at 12, especially now that Ioane is back to full fitness and ready to take back his winger spot. The only possible question mark is whether JOC and Quade can hold up in defence in the midfield.

Imagine a backline of:

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. JOC
13. AAC
14. Ioane
15. Beale

20. Burgess
21. Barnes
22. Horne/Turner

That starting backline could do some serious damage.
Click to expand...

Hard to disagree with that. Is Horne injured again?
 
Horne is injured once again. Another elbow problem IIRC. Him constantly being injured is not a good sign at the age of 21/22. Will really need to work hard to build his body up to become a consistent footballer capable of playing full seasons.

Turner played 13 last night to not much success but I think he is capable of playing the position. I wouldn't look into his performance there too much. The rest of the side didn't do much better in their NORMAL positions.

And perhaps with JOC chosen at 12 (Deans will surely pick him somewhere in the starting back line) Giteau will be tossed once and for all.
 

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Can'really blame the Tahs' backs last night as the forwards were destroyed at the break down. Barnes and co. were always way behind the advantage line. Beale played very well despite a few dropped balls and Dennis was good when he came on. I still think Halangahu is under used by the Tahs.

In terms of the team for the WC it is great we have such depth in the backs. Faingaa is a solid back up and it seems Cummins is actually quite good at 13 (did he play there against the Lions last night?).

I have noticed that Cooper is quite adept at defending at fb. Obviously with the Reds this year he drops out of the defensive line to fb and defends from there. Now while this may be glossing over his crap defense, it seems to be working quite well. He reads the play so well and positions himself so well at fb that he does well defending there. Whether or not this strategy will work at test level is another matter.
 
I really like Dave Dennis. Thought he should have started ahead of Mowen at 6. Big fan of Dennis. No nonsense and gets through his work very efficiently. Perfect blindside IMO.
 
Barnes' kicking is a big plus for him and one that I think will keep him in the XV. Cooper's field kicking is improving but it's not at the level of Berrick's.

JOC has to be in the XV somewhere though. I'd love him to be at 12, but wing is probably the place for him up until the RWC. After this year I'd love to see him moved closer to the action.
 
Cooper has improved his field kicking this year, but Barnes is still ahead. However, I still think Barnes runs laterally (across the field) too much, whereas Cooper is much more likely to approach the defensive line and then offload/kick.
 
I like the backline in the OP. Barnes' kicking game is good sure, but I'd rather have Cooper on the pitch then Barnes.
 
Wahooti Fandango said:
Cooper has improved his field kicking this year, but Barnes is still ahead. However, I still think Barnes runs laterally (across the field) too much, whereas Cooper is much more likely to approach the defensive line and then offload/kick.
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They work well together- our best form last year happened to be with Barnes/Cooper in the 10/12. They will be the 10/12!
 

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bombersno1 said:
They work well together- our best form last year happened to be with Barnes/Cooper in the 10/12. They will be the 10/12!
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No doubt, but with Cooper at 10 and Barnes at 12.

Did you see the Reds vs Cheetahs game this arvo? Cooper on fire at 10!
 
I also saw Cooper missing anumber of tackles- it is the reason I don't want him at 10. I rate the bloke but we can't have two poorish defenders nextr to one another. Barnes at 10, Cooper at 12, with Cooper playing the majority of 10 in attack.
 
bombersno1 said:
I also saw Cooper missing anumber of tackles- it is the reason I don't want him at 10. I rate the bloke but we can't have two poorish defenders nextr to one another. Barnes at 10, Cooper at 12, with Cooper playing the majority of 10 in attack.
Click to expand...

I thought it would be better to have the stronger defender at 12 than 10. Also, when we are defending, Cooper can float to fb and Beale can move up.
 
Wahooti Fandango said:
I thought it would be better to have the stronger defender at 12 than 10. Also, when we are defending, Cooper can float to fb and Beale can move up.
Click to expand...

I am the other way, I would rather Barnes at 10, because he can defend a lot of traffic straight away. Our outside defenders are good, we need an inside defender. Cooper can play 10 in attack, but not in defence!
 
bombersno1 said:
I am the other way, I would rather Barnes at 10, because he can defend a lot of traffic straight away. Our outside defenders are good, we need an inside defender. Cooper can play 10 in attack, but not in defence!
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Hence my remark about Cooper moving out of the defensive line when we do not have the ball. Lucas has been covering for Cooper well for the Reds and I am sure Beale can do the same at international level.
 
Beale is an awful defender and that is my point, he may have "improved" a bit but Beale lets in tries after tries through shabby defence. We need a rock defender at 10, that is Barnes. I am happy for Cooper to assume the playmaking role whilst in attack, but Barnes should be the general as he can organise a team better.
 

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I don't think Beale is an awful defender anymore. He's not outstanding but I don't remember him missing too many tackles anymore. Wouldn't say he lets in loads of tries.
 
bombersno1 said:
Beale is an awful defender and that is my point, he may have "improved" a bit but Beale lets in tries after tries through shabby defence. We need a rock defender at 10, that is Barnes. I am happy for Cooper to assume the playmaking role whilst in attack, but Barnes should be the general as he can organise a team better.
Click to expand...

I see, if Cooper plays at 10 in attack and 12 in defense and Barnes the reverse then that could work. However, I am starting to think that JOC should start ahead of Barnes.

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. JOC
13. AAC
14. Ioane
15. Beale
 
Wahooti Fandango said:
I see, if Cooper plays at 10 in attack and 12 in defense and Barnes the reverse then that could work. However, I am starting to think that JOC should start ahead of Barnes.

9. Genia
10. Cooper
11. Mitchell
12. JOC
13. AAC
14. Ioane
15. Beale
Click to expand...

JOC will be a floating winger, he was devastating that way last year, he will be on the wing this year with Mitchell the other. Iaone has done squat all to command a starting spot over the two wingers that were the first choice last year. AAC I will cop, although if fit I still prefer Horne at 13. Cooper and Barnes will be your 10/12.
 
Swans120 said:
I don't think Beale is an awful defender anymore. He's not outstanding but I don't remember him missing too many tackles anymore. Wouldn't say he lets in loads of tries.
Click to expand...

You watch tonight's game? Would have missed 20 tackles..some which don't register as he didn't lay a hand on them!:thumbsdown:
 

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James O'Connor

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