Wallabies fly-half James O'Connor is so eager to clash with the All Blacks in the upcoming Bledisloe Cup that he's declared he would "fly under the plane" to make the matches. Currently in England gearing up for the Gallagher Prem season with Leicester Tigers, O'Connor's participation is hanging by a thread as discussions continue between Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt and Leicester.
O'Connor, who recently dazzled off the bench during Australia's narrow loss to Argentina in the Rugby Championship, is not shying away from expressing his desperation to rejoin his national team. "I want to, I’ve made it pretty clear that I want to play. Joe’s still talking with Leicester at the moment," O'Connor revealed on the GBRAUNZ podcast.
"I’ll bloody do what my dog’s doing and fly under the plane to get back,"
The determination to face the All Blacks is palpable, and O'Connor even entertained the notion of enduring less comfortable travel arrangements if necessary. When teased about flying economy, the seasoned player responded robustly, "Mate, I would fly under the plane to come back and play in the Bledisloe."
Despite his recent exploits, which include a pivotal role in Australia's victory over the Springboks and a near comeback against Argentina, O'Connor's absence could be a significant blow for the Wallabies. The team has struggled to find a consistent fly-half, with younger players like Tom Lynagh, Tane Edmed, and Ben Donaldson yet to secure the position firmly.
O'Connor also highlighted areas for improvement within the team, emphasizing the need for better game management. "Number one, they were winning the aerial battle but number two, if you’re giving away that many penalties, we were just allowing them to creep up the field," he noted, stressing the importance of strategic kicking and maintaining possession.
His leadership and experience were evident as he rallied his teammates during the Argentina match. "When I go on there’s only one thing to do when you’re behind that much and that’s getting the whip out, and I got the boys moving," O'Connor reflected on his efforts to turn the game around.
The Wallabies are set to face the All Blacks on September 27 and October 4, with the squad selection eagerly anticipated. Whether O'Connor will join the fray remains to be seen, but his readiness to do whatever it takes is unquestionable.