Misfiring O'Connor still No.1 for Deans
James O’Connor is still the first choice as Wallaby goal-kicker, despite his misfiring performance in the big loss to the All Blacks last week.
Australia’s head coach, Robbie Deans, told the media in Durban on Thursday that O’Connor will again take the kicks at goal against South Africa on Saturday.
O’Connor missed all his kicks at goal in Australia’s 14-30 loss to New Zealand in Auckland last week, before flyhalf Quade Cooper slotted two from two.
“Obviously James wouldn’t have enjoyed his kicking performance at the weekend, but it’s unusual for him,” Deans told a media scrum at the team’s base in Durban.
“He’s been kicking very well and he’ll kick well again.
“It’s generally good conditions for kicking here so, no, we don’t see it as an issue going forward from here.”
The coach said Cooper didn’t necessarily take over from O’Connor because his teammate had lost confidence.
Deans said it was planned through the week in Auckland that Cooper would take the longer-range shots at goal.
“And, off the back of those, he would be the back-up kicker,” he said.
“You leave that very much to the blokes on the day, but we do discuss who is next cab off the rank.”
O’Connor, under the watchful eye of Deans – a one-time Bledisloe Cup goal-kicking hero for the All Blacks – looked in good touch with the boot at training.
And fullback Kurtley Beale, who nailed a screamer from halfway to give Australia a thrilling after-the-bell 41-39 win over South Africa in Bloemfontein last year, is also tipping O’Connor strike back this weekend.
“I don’t think he’s worried too much. He knows what he’s got to do and I’m sure he’ll fix that,” said Beale, excited that the Wallabies now have the luxury of choosing between three or four goal kickers.
“We’ve got Quadey there as a back-up and that’s the best thing – the last couple of years there was only one kicker and that was (Matt) Giteau, so I guess it’s a good thing.”
