Monday, July 14, 2008
James O'Connor - Australia, South Africa, or New Zealand?
Australia is his home, but his grand parents are from South Africa, and mother and father from New Zealand. Hes played for Australia Sevens, but not for Australia A, which means hes still eligible for either one of the three countries, placing him in the unique situation of having to choose which country to play for.
Its not presumptuous to talk about him playing international rugby at this stage either. After getting his break in this years Super 14 at the age of just 17, OConnor, who was originally touted to be a back-up player, impressed so much that he played in every game since his debut.
He is just 180cm, weighs 83kg, and looks like a member of a boyband rather than a rugby player, but has grown in confidence with his four Super 14 appearances.
It was everything I expected it to be; faster, harder, with bigger players, bigger hits and fewer open spaces."
Now the question is - which colour international jersey will he choose to wear in the future if the opportunity arises?
"I had a bit of a chat to the New Zealanders but I'm happy with where I am right now.
"I've always had the dream, from when I was young, to play for my country. So I definitely want to play in a World Cup, hopefully the next World Cup would be awesome if I'm ready for that."
This feature on OConnor, done by Total Rugby, gives us a great insight into the world of the talented young man whos sure to have a huge future, wherever he plays.
:: Related Posts::
17 Year old James O'Connor scores his first Super 14 try
That man Nonu puts in a huge hit on young Force center
Time:
04:39
17 Year old James O'Connor scores his first Super 14 try
That man Nonu puts in a huge hit on young Force center
Posted at 6:37 pm | 54 comments
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Viewing 54 comments
Cheis July 14, 2008 8:46 pm
wow, choosing one of the tri biggest rugby nations!! i think he'll go with Aussie, cause he's born there, and probably feels most connected to australia, but unique situation!!
Anonymous July 14, 2008 8:57 pm
im 17 and im am on the leinster under 18s squad and i cant even fathom playing for a fully professional side!! incredibly lucky guy!!
tom July 14, 2008 9:56 pm
Great on him. good for him being so young and doing so much! hopefully he stays in australia : )
aa July 14, 2008 10:00 pm
looks like he is well set up!!! good on the fella! recon he will go aussie tho!! one for the future!!!
mgfelts July 15, 2008 1:10 am
that is incredible im 19 and on a US super league side and that is what every young rugger dreams of
mr.clutchcleverismyh July 15, 2008 2:20 am
that kid has got it @$#&ing made!!! wow, WHY CANT I HAVE THAT!!! haha.
frhater July 15, 2008 8:03 am
The french are gonna pay him 10 millions and he'll play for france anyway
Connachtfan July 15, 2008 8:13 am
With a name like O'Connor he could play for Ireland ( if he were really keen to under achieve) :O)
Robobokke July 15, 2008 8:19 am
bokkebut to small ma'a nonu would #$^* HIM over. should go to flyhalf to small for other posistion he does punch above his waitjean de villiers or francois steyn will lick there lips if they play himthe reality is that in 3 nations rugby there is limited space
David July 15, 2008 8:27 am
jesus he looks about 12.must be alot tougher than he looks, i can see guys like nonu and burger slaughtering him. but he's obviously got bags of talent.me? jealous?...yeah, a bit.
caucau's no.1 fan July 15, 2008 12:22 pm
love all you guys reactions to those women, dont blame you though!definately will play for aus, cant see him going anywhere else if he wants to form a solid partnership with giteau. those two guys have to make the smallest partnership going!
Don July 15, 2008 12:34 pm
Tough call.Hot prom date tho.I seriously hate this dude...lucky bastard all-round.
Anonymous July 15, 2008 1:49 pm
if you had his life, you couldnt appreciate the milf. every cloud guys....
Bonzai July 15, 2008 4:06 pm
I think the Wallabies would be the best choice for him, he fits their style of play better as a 12 but will probably end up at 10 he looks like hes got the skills. New Zealand usually prefer bigger direct runners in the midfield, and I can't see him going to SA if he has never lived their. Plus he's grown up and is playing club rugby in Aus.
Rancid July 15, 2008 4:30 pm
If he doesnt pick Australia he's a homo. He was born and raised there, that's his home.His parents being Kiwi nationality isn't relevant.
Brent July 15, 2008 4:30 pm
dont care where he plays, his girlfriend or whatever is unbelievable!! just makes me aggressive
Anonymous July 15, 2008 4:59 pm
none of the 3 will want to take him . dont think he is good enough for any of the national teams... australia can have him... I will eat my words when he proves to be one of the top 8 centers in teh super 14. -tj
blu22 July 15, 2008 5:03 pm
he lived in NZ from 6-11, then aus from then on. patriotism doesnt really develop when your 6, so in his mind hes prob spent as much time in NZ as Aus. hes prob been raised to support NZ as his dad is a NZer, so it wouldnt be surprising if he did eventually play for them or move to a NZ franchise team. seeing his GF, i would be surprised if he turned homo, so lets not make silly comments.
Anonymous July 15, 2008 5:14 pm
He should play for South Africa, the current World Champions, likely Tri-Nations winners and favourites for the 2011 tournament.
blu22 July 15, 2008 5:31 pm
im sure jean de villiers might have something to say about that...
Anonymous July 15, 2008 10:12 pm
haha yea he is a bit of backstreet boy...his girlfriends south african though
flanker6 July 15, 2008 10:21 pm
his mums a milf and his dads a will ferrel lookalike!
edouard clark July 16, 2008 4:15 am
hey guys..i gotta questioni was born in france...got a french mom and an english dad...but now im in brazil and playing for the brazil under 18 side...(XV's rugby)is it against the law for me to play for any other national team in the futur?many thanks!!
stephanie July 16, 2008 9:52 am
i dont think so, alot of players have played age group in one country then moved to play full internationals at another
Anonymous July 16, 2008 11:24 am
i played for bbc and played him last year in round 2 i am a no.8and he looked like some gay stepping dummy passing puff he was good but our coach told us to target him and the no.10 and we did with our tighthead prop smashing through him like butteri am sure jean de villiers hopes he plays for wallababies so he can get smashed. he is tuff and will take it for 20mins but after that cutting through thin air. and he wore his socks down which means he is a gay latho aspirer
Anonymous July 16, 2008 3:37 pm
him giteau and barnes thats a small parnership
Ruairi July 16, 2008 7:32 pm
Of Course He cant choose all three nations! If hes played at 7s level for austrailia then thats who he has to play for in full internationals!Same reason Lifemi Mafi will never be eligable for Ireland.Read this if you dont believe me:http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/0/060924gfirbregulation8_883.pdf
Bart July 16, 2008 9:01 pm
So many people can only make a comment about his girlfriend or his mom. This is a serious rugbypage; comment about if he's any good and who he should play for should be the center of atten... oh crap... Can't you RD guys post one with hot moms of rugby players (and make sure his JoC's mom is in it)? I ,and many others, would appreciate it:-)
Zoe July 16, 2008 9:44 pm
Wooowww... so jealous of his girlfriend.He is something else!
Asterix July 17, 2008 12:59 am
Dont want a moffie like that playing for the Boks.Besides anything else, he would get munched by a some big boer in the Currie Cup and be made faulty for life...hmm.... maybe he should play for the Bokke
Anonymous July 17, 2008 11:38 pm
Come on guys.. his GF is hideous ! no charms whatsoever, tons of makeup, fake tits ! that's ugly. However his mom, let's be honest, is just a milf ^^Seriously thouh, he is a damn good rugby player but I still think it's pretty arrogant to be already thinking about which country he wants to represent.. I am sorry but I don't see Robbie Dean putting Barnes on the bench for O'connor.. It's too soon.Will he be gien a trial in the november test match against France ?
opfazonk July 18, 2008 9:25 pm
wow!what a situation to be in! i think he should play for the ausies, even tho i'm an all nz fan.it's simply because all the experience he gained to work out his talent into real skill is based on the australien teams he has been playing in, so i just think it wouldn't be fair to move to the all blacks or the boks.well, but obviously its just weired. think about the option if he will be going to play in a nz or sa super 14 team in 2009 or 2010! he'd still just be 18 or 19! so what could you tell his "rugby roots" are?!? at what age has dan carter had his first all blacks cap or just his first starting XV game with the crusaders?!? perhaps he wont even be asked to play for one of the sanzar nations till he's 20 or 21 just due to his lack of experience.time will tellnice jop RD!
Anonymous August 22, 2008 10:05 am
there is no way this guy will play for NZ or SA he is aussie all the way. The way he expresses himself holding the nz and sa flags in the clip compared to when he holds the aussie and how hes idolised australian rugby players like giteau. all his friends will be australian. His lifes aussie and i think thats the way he will go
scot September 05, 2008 8:58 pm
awesome gfmilf...seriously he's a great player but i think he should way till 20-21 to think about test rugbyuntil then he can gain experience and build up his muscles ...i'm so jealous i cant even go to trainings cos i've got class nor can i play on saturdays cos we've got tests on saturdays ...
Anonymous September 20, 2008 7:50 am
He and the rest of the western force squad were on my flight from dubai to newcastle over the summer. As a girl, i have to say he's sooo much more attractive in the flesh :D
drunkcone October 27, 2008 2:20 pm
surely he has to play for australia having played 7's for them?!
Anonymous August 30, 2009 1:24 am
hes a really good player and should play for aussie=]
hah nd he's really hot
hah nd he's really hot
Guest May 12, 2013 4:31 pm
just interesting reading these comments years on, some people really do have to eat their words :P
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