The Wallabies 10 candidate who's turning heads: 'He's a completely different person'
Queensland Reds captain Liam Wright has hailed the maturity and dedication of one-time Australian rugby wild child James O'Connor.
Five-eighth O'Connor kicked a match-winning pair of penalties as the Reds ended a seven-year, 11-game losing streak against the NSW Waratahs in last weekend's launch of Super Rugby AU.
Armed with a new mindset since his return to Australia, O'Connor turning 30 on Sunday had given him a further chance to reflect on his career, according to Wright.
"From what I watched growing up of James O'Connor he's a completely different person," Wright said.
"He's a really good fellow to be around. He's a leader in our group.
"He puts a lot of time into his craft which I think upon reflection on his 30th birthday, that's what he sort of figured out was missing from earlier years.
"He just invests a lot into himself, into this team and I think the results are starting to show really well."
The Reds will get their first taste of fly-in, fly-out life this Friday when they head to Sydney to play the Melbourne Rebels, who are exiled from Victoria due to that state's worsening COVID-19 outbreak.
Wright said while the experience of flying in, playing a match and then flying home would be a different one, he was hopeful it wouldn't faze his group.
"A lot of our boys have come through the club footy system, which is kind of similar, you don't have all the luxuries before and after you're just going there to play footy and enjoy that," he said.
"We're really looking forward to getting back to basics like that."
Wright confirmed lock Angus Blyth was on track to take on the Rebels after copping a head knock in the win over the Waratahs.
"Blythie past all his HIAs and is roaring to go this week," Wright said.
- Ed Jackson
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wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
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