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O'Connor promises a spirited 7s line-up
PETER TIFFEN
January 8th, 2009
DUAL INTERNATIONAL: Michael O'Connor pictured training with the Wallabies in 1982.
DUAL international Michael O'Connor has given the Northern Territory News a sneak exclusive peak into the make up of the Aussie Spirit side for the Heineken Hottest 7s in the World.
Australian coach O'Connor said his side which will be named today for the glamour $60,000 rugby union event will be stacked with young rugby talent packing power and pace.
But he said the team that will run out at Austar Park later this month was very inexperienced.
"Darwin is a very important tournament for us because in the first two IRB rounds we played with a squad of 12, 11 of which had never played sevens before on the IRB circuit," he said.
"Experience counts for a lot. Darwin will be helpful to get our side together and work on some team related combinations and just get more experience of playing sevens."
O'Connor said he and Robbie Deans were working together to make the Australian sevens side more of a gateway to the Wallabies.
But NSW and Queensland are holding trials the same weekend as the Hottest 7s on January 24-25, ruling out Super 14 players coming to Darwin.
"It makes a couple of players unavailable but this tournament is all about giving some young blokes an opportunity to see how they go," O'Connor said.
"I'd like to think they we will push selection in the next IRB rounds in Wellington and San Diego.
"If I've got to make a selection choice I am going to be able to make it a lot easier after going to Darwin and playing against great opposition under stress and in the heat."
Former Sydney Roosters league fullback Shaun Foley, 22, is in the squad.
"We've just been discussing that kid and he is going to come up with us," O'Connor said.
"He is a former Australian schoolboys rugby player but has been playing league for the past four years. That's the sort of player we will pick - lots of talent and potential."
A star centre O'Connor represented the Wallabies in 13 Tests from 1979-1982 and the Kangaroos in 17 Tests between 1985 and 1990.
O'Connor toured England with the undefeated legendary 1977 Australian schoolboys rugby union team that also contained the Ella brothers and Wally Lewis.
He scored a try in the third Test at Sydney to give Australia victory in the Bledisloe Cup over the All Blacks in 1980.
And in rugby league he is best remembered for kicking a sideline conversion in pouring rain after the final siren to win Game 2 of the 1991 rugby league State of Origin series for NSW.
O'Connor promises a spirited 7s line-up
PETER TIFFEN
January 8th, 2009
DUAL international Michael O'Connor has given the Northern Territory News a sneak exclusive peak into the make up of the Aussie Spirit side for the Heineken Hottest 7s in the World.
Australian coach O'Connor said his side which will be named today for the glamour $60,000 rugby union event will be stacked with young rugby talent packing power and pace.
But he said the team that will run out at Austar Park later this month was very inexperienced.
"Darwin is a very important tournament for us because in the first two IRB rounds we played with a squad of 12, 11 of which had never played sevens before on the IRB circuit," he said.
"Experience counts for a lot. Darwin will be helpful to get our side together and work on some team related combinations and just get more experience of playing sevens."
O'Connor said he and Robbie Deans were working together to make the Australian sevens side more of a gateway to the Wallabies.
But NSW and Queensland are holding trials the same weekend as the Hottest 7s on January 24-25, ruling out Super 14 players coming to Darwin.
"It makes a couple of players unavailable but this tournament is all about giving some young blokes an opportunity to see how they go," O'Connor said.
"I'd like to think they we will push selection in the next IRB rounds in Wellington and San Diego.
"If I've got to make a selection choice I am going to be able to make it a lot easier after going to Darwin and playing against great opposition under stress and in the heat."
Former Sydney Roosters league fullback Shaun Foley, 22, is in the squad.
"We've just been discussing that kid and he is going to come up with us," O'Connor said.
"He is a former Australian schoolboys rugby player but has been playing league for the past four years. That's the sort of player we will pick - lots of talent and potential."
A star centre O'Connor represented the Wallabies in 13 Tests from 1979-1982 and the Kangaroos in 17 Tests between 1985 and 1990.
O'Connor toured England with the undefeated legendary 1977 Australian schoolboys rugby union team that also contained the Ella brothers and Wally Lewis.
He scored a try in the third Test at Sydney to give Australia victory in the Bledisloe Cup over the All Blacks in 1980.
And in rugby league he is best remembered for kicking a sideline conversion in pouring rain after the final siren to win Game 2 of the 1991 rugby league State of Origin series for NSW.
