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O'Connor given licence to attack Springboks

Article Published: Wednesday 21 July 2010

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Young Wallaby star James O'Connor says that he has no fear about marking one of the world's best wingers in Bryan Habana and that he is looking forward to playing opposite him.

O'Connor has played just 40 minutes on the wing and is expected to have his hands full this weekend if Habana can get his hands on the ball.

The young Force back has just turned 20 but has two international seasons behind him and has vowed to create headaches for the Springboks by embracing a roving attack in the Wallabies TriNations opener this weekend.

O'Connor is licking his lips with excitement having been given licence to move about and run off playmakers such as Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau at Suncorp Stadium.

"Once I get out on the field and into the phase attack you'll see me all over," O'Connor told AAP.

"The way the game's going now there's a high (attacking) work rate for wingers whereas at 15 it's more defensively a high work rate, so that could benefit my game."

Former Wallabies' winger Damian Smith agrees with O'Connor strongly and says that Robbie Deans moving of O'Connor to the wing and moving Adam Ashley-Cooper to play fullback is a fantastic move.

Smith is clearly a fan of O'Connor's as he says that the young Wallaby could find a permanent home on the wing and that he has the skills to make him another David Campese-style game breaker.

"He's a great attacking player and he reads the game so well and it just gives him the freedom to get into first receiver and run the ball and create," Smith told AAP.

"I think he could end up playing there for quite a while."

O'Connor's talent is so plentiful that he has been played at fullback, inside centre and five-eighth for the Western Force. He also played wing in the second half of the Wallabies recent 22-15 win over Ireland.

While playing on the wing in the TriNations against Bryan Habana is a baptism of fire O'Connor himself is pretty relaxed about the task ahead.

"I've had a few one-on-ones with Habana in the past so it's been a good experience so far," O'Connor said.

"So far, so good."

Wallabies' selector and assistant coach Jim Williams has little doubt O'Connor can cope with the switch.

"Defensively I think he's a great little defender and that's not going to trouble him," he said.

On the other side of the pitch Drew Mitchell will start just two weeks after being dumped from the 30-man squad.

Williams said that Mitchell had responded well to a blunt message.

"Just his attitude he takes into training and into a game is what we wanted to see an improvement in and he's done that so far," he said.

The Wallabies have had the luxury of examining the All Blacks successful tactics against the Springboks and O'Connor, Mitchell and Ashley-Cooper will be looking to trouble the South Africans in the same way.

"We've been practising a lot of our counter-attacking this week," O'Connor said.

"I think it's going to be pretty quick and enjoyable."

 

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