Don’t write off James O’Connor in World Cup calculations.
The ACT Brumbies were more polished when it mattered for a 23-17 win but no one left Canberra’s GIO Stadium on Saturday night without talking about O’Connor’s impact on lifting the Queensland Reds.
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So what did we learn?
1 MORE PUZZLES AT No.10
O’Connor had been out of sight for six months since an ankle injury in Brisbane club rugby last September forced him into surgery.
He made the shrewd call to be conservative with his comeback before a brief cameo in Super Round a week ago. As a result, he hit the second half of this game as if he were in mid-season.
Young Tom Lynagh had some polished moments in the first half too but is not yet the running threat that O’Connor is.
O’Connor’s dash and rekindled speed with the ball opened up numerous chances for the Reds as they tried to make up an early 13-0 deficit.
His cheeky kick poked high to Jordan Petaia in the in-goal was made from just 10m out and was more like Tom Brady popping a dinky quarterback pass to a soaring wide receiver.
A slick wide ball to put Petaia over for a second try tightened the scores even more.
There was shortside sizzle from one O’Connor run and confidence to get involved and run the show.
Noah Lolesio did all his duties well. He relieved with good kicks to touch, a super pass put hooker Connal McInerney into a hole and there was a run-and-fend from the No.10 as well. He potted the key kicks for points.
You often leave Lolesio games pondering “just grab the game.” He never did like O’Connor.
Most of all, O’Connor’s display showed how much he wants to force his way into World Cup contention.
Eddie Jones used the word “utility” when O’Connor’s name was mentioned at the new Wallaby coach’s first media conference so we’ll see how he is viewed.
2 NICK FROST
This was a quality 80 minutes from the big Brumbies lock.
The bare stats of 10 gallops, 10 tackles, sure lineout wins and pestering the Reds’ lineout only tells part of the story.
In the final 10 minutes, when the Brumbies made a breakout who should loom in support for an explosive run but the tallest player on the field.
The Brumbies command lineouts. The Reds have to pull trick plays just to break even which means headaches in every game.
3 THE BRUMBIES-REDS RIVALRY
This game always delivers.
That’s 5-5 in head-to-head matches between the sides since the beginning of 2020.
We don’t have to wait long for another...the Brumbies head to Suncorp Stadium for another peak clash on April 7.
4 NIC WHITE
The shrewd skipper of the Brumbies bobbed up in the right spot to take a Cadeyrn Neville offload for the opening try and generally ran the show for his side while he was on.
He’s going to be a key figure for the Wallabies as an emblem of the feisty never-say-die qualities that Jones wants.
Likewise, Reds halfback Tate McDermott came into his own in the second half with the game going up in tempo. He’s always looking to probe.
He’s got to improve the consistency of his kicking though. Hoofing one kick long touch in-goal brought play back upfield and gave the Brumbies’ field position in the lead-up to their first try.
A few hacks out on the full in the earlier rounds means this is a skill area he has to tighten up.
5 JORDAN PETAIA
It’s not always what Jordan Petaia does that earns him raves but what he doesn’t do.
He cranked out another 10 runs for 94m and scored two tries in a top performance.
As importantly, there were moments where he could have tried a 50-50 offload as he was being tackled but he treasured the ball and let play go another phase. That’s a big improvement area.
