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James O'Connor has a completely different approach to the week
By Online Editors
The biggest indicator of James O'Connor's transformation from rugby party boy to model professional in Wallabies veteran Will Genia's opinion is his Tuesday nights.
Prior to O'Connor's departure from Australia six years ago, Genia noted how his teammate would use nights off to hit the town.
These days however, it's a very different story.
"Tuesday nights, James was always out and about doing stuff because Wednesday we have off," Genia said.
"Tuesday night in the last three or four weeks that we've had, he's in his room stretching, doing what it takes in terms of recovery.
"He understands that this is a huge opportunity for him."
O'Connor has been thrown a lifeline to make up for his failed attempt to get into Australia's 2015 World Cup squad.
The 29-year-old is firmly in contention to secure his 45th Test cap on Saturday when the Wallabies host Argentina in a Rugby Championship clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Halfback Nick White made an impressive return from his own Wallabies exile last weekend against South Africa, and Genia believes that's the template for O'Connor to follow if he's picked to face the Pumas.
"You saw Whitey come back and play very well, hopefully it can be a similar story with James because I think he was on 44 Tests and he was so young when he left," Genia said.
"We all know how good he is and hopefully the fact he's in a better space mentally, he can be an even better player this time around."
The clash with the Pumas is Australia's last before back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand.
With games running out before this year's World Cup, Genia said it was crucial for the Wallabies to start building momentum.
A veteran of Australia's 2015 tournament, Genia said preparations for this year's event were all about discovering the Wallabies best combinations.
"We're in a different position in the sense that we're trying to do things differently from a game perspective," he said.
"It was really pleasing to see the way things came together the way they did on the weekend - obviously we didn't get the result which is disappointing - but trying different things and doing things a different way there's always going to be some teething problems but I think we're on track, definitely."
- AAP
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Latest Comments
Im guessing you never lived in NZ under r dern and red commie labour
We were forced and in some cases mandated to take the V - I know of 7 people who D taking it and many with untold injuries - Minimium 12 K D in NZ taking it - it was never safe never effective never worked just Maimed and K'd qe were close to being thrown into quarantine camps C was only a rebranded Flu
Oz Govt MOH have completed their c commission - they admit they never had the proveable data to make justify their statements and decisions & that the public will never accept it ever happening again - they fired rubber B into peaceful protestors Ardern is hated here ( 1 M patriots forced her out ) - bloomfield her side kick 2IC dr D excempted 11k from taking it - we (not u) know who they were the Pol and Public servants who knew they were fatal - A zeneca pulled it off the market due 2 excess D's - Japan banned them - called them stupid poison -
P M Shinzo Abe opposed the v and sent over a million doses back - because of that he was murdered - So were the heads of several African nations who also opposed the fake v they were k'd and their replacements allowed their countries to be swamped with them - C was V wasnt bought in fo C - C was bought in for the V
Im not here to talk politics but if u want to I can all day especially to a RED neck commie like you - whats it going to be Rugby or Politics or mud slinging give me something to think about - surprise me with something meaty - just not word salad
Go to commentsIt doesn’t matter how good your rugby team is, at the highest level you are going to have momentum swings in games.
Wales having a good ten minute period next week- and they will- doesn’t mean the Boks will be playing poorly.
It’s if you can make the most of it when you have the momentum. And the current group of springboks do enough when they create enough, as great teams do.
For comparison, the All Blacks played their best game of the year against France.
Still lost. And it’s only France’s second game so they aren’t firing at 100% yet.
The ABs haven’t got to that ruthless stage that the springboks are at yet.
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