Bad boy O’Connor needs to deal with ‘humility issues’, says coach

WESTERN Force may yet offer exiled Wallabies three-quarter James O’Connor a contract for next season but they would like him to deal with his “humility” issues, the Super Rugby franchise’s coach said yesterday.

The 23-year-old was released from his Australian Rugby Union (ARU) contract with immediate effect earlier this month. This was after he had been escorted by police from Perth airport after a Test against Argentina. The incident was the culmination of several disciplinary issues that infuriated senior Wallabies and alienated him from potential suitors among other Super Rugby franchises after his release by the Melbourne Rebels.

The Perth-based Force, for whom O’Connor made his debut as a 17-year-old in 2008, had urged him to go away and think about his future after the ARU ban but coach Michael Foley said yesterday there had been contact.

“We’ve continued to talk to James and we’re definitely openminded there,” said Foley, but he added that signing O’Connor and simply hoping for the best was not going to happen.

“There’s a plan to get the best out of him both on and off the field,” he said. “We’re very keen to work towards the humility side of things and also the generosity of spirit that James displays in some of the other areas of his life, particularly with some of the charities he’s involved in.”

O’Connor has been widely pilloried for describing himself as a “brand” as well as demanding that “key performance indicators” be fulfilled during ultimately fruitless negotiations with the Force over a new contract in 2011. A supremely gifted utility back who can play fullback, centre, wing or flyhalf (as he did in all three Tests against the British and Irish Lions earlier this year), O’Connor was once considered the future of Australian rugby.

But a Super Rugby contract is vital if he wants to resume his international career as players plying their trade outside Australia are not eligible for national selection. Australia’s coach Ewen McKenzie said in Sydney yesterday that he had been in touch with O’Connor but the onus remained on the player to sort himself out.

“He’s obviously working on his end of things and I’ll continue to have contact. But contact’s a twoway thing,” McKenzie said.

“We’ve had to concentrate on playing rugby but I did speak to him from Argentina. I’m interested in improving him as a person. I’m happy to help with that process,” he said.

Australia’s captain James Horwill said it was “jumping the gun” to talk about a return to the Wallabies for next year.

“He needs to decide what he wants to do with his future. It’s a personal decision. No one else can make for him,” the lock said. “No one can ever question his ability, he’s a freak of a talent and he’s got so much upside to him.”