James’ change
WINNING the trust of senior Wallabies has got Gold Coast product James O’Connor’s Test career on the launchpad for Suncorp Stadium.
More and more, there is the sense that the nimble back will reignite his Test career for the first time in six years against dangerous Argentina on Saturday night.
It is Will Genia’s final outing at his beloved Suncorp Stadium but the reappearance of O’Connor will equally pump ticket sales which are tracking at a relatively healthy 24,000-plus.
Fair-minded critics thought it all too easy that O’Connor could swan into a Wallabies squad from his English club Sale with the misdemeanours of the past dismissed as “the old James”.
Three weeks in Wallabies’ camps and on tour to South Africa has given 101-Test stalwart Genia and others a real chance to see if actions are backing up the words that O’Connor is a changed man.
There was once a common thread to the disrespect that O’Connor showed teammates because he often treated the players’ Wednesday day-off like the off-season.
His pre-dawn burger run to Hungry Jacks with Kurtley Beale on the Tuesday night before the huge Melbourne Test against the British and Irish Lions in 2013 was typical. When asked just how the new O’Connor was different, Genia paused.
“How can I put it ... (on) Tuesday nights James was always out and about doing stuff because Wednesday we have off as our own free time,” Genia said.
“Tuesday night, the last three or four weeks, he’s been in his room stretching.
“He understands this is a huge opportunity for him.”