After his high profile move to London Irish, the twenty
three year old James O’Connor has done very little. Making his debut against
Northampton Saints on the 3rd of November, he has yet to play since
then. Brian Smith has chosen to leave him out since then, missing two LV Cup
matches, one against Newcastle Falcons and another game against Northampton.
For me this is an odd decision, O’Connor is a world class player and only on a
short term deal. If you have a player on a short term deal then surely he gets
utilised him as much as possible in that short period, especially a player of
O’Connor’s quality. He is a unique case in the fact that he isn’t playing in
the autumn internationals because of his high profile fall out with the Wallaby
management.
This means that the Exiles are one of the only teams left in the league with world class talent left in the ranks over this four week period. During the international break they could have used this outstanding talent to exploit other teams and move themselves into a good position in the LV Cup. They haven’t used him and after two games they sit last in Pool 1 without any points. This effectively puts them out of the LV Cup, a bad position for the Exiles to be sitting in. It looks as if they are saving O’Connor for the Premiership, which does make sense, if he was on a long term contract. It is worth risking him because he is on such a short term deal, if O’Connor gets injured it does not affect the team greatly because his contract will be over very shortly anyway. A player of his quality comes through any club very rarely but through London Irish even more rarely, so while he is here put him on the pitch!
This means that the Exiles are one of the only teams left in the league with world class talent left in the ranks over this four week period. During the international break they could have used this outstanding talent to exploit other teams and move themselves into a good position in the LV Cup. They haven’t used him and after two games they sit last in Pool 1 without any points. This effectively puts them out of the LV Cup, a bad position for the Exiles to be sitting in. It looks as if they are saving O’Connor for the Premiership, which does make sense, if he was on a long term contract. It is worth risking him because he is on such a short term deal, if O’Connor gets injured it does not affect the team greatly because his contract will be over very shortly anyway. A player of his quality comes through any club very rarely but through London Irish even more rarely, so while he is here put him on the pitch!
However, the two games that Irish have lost have provided
some positives. They have blooded some young players and given debuts to
others. Tom Fowlie at just eighteen scored his first senior try against
Newcastle Falcons. Whilst Setaimata Sa made his debut, the ex-rugby league
player has arrived at London Irish after switching codes. Although he couldn’t
help the team to a win he did help to create a try for Alex Lewington, and will
be a useful player for the rest of the season now he’s back playing. Falcons
eventually edged Irish out 29-21, but a lot was learnt and a lot gained as the
team moves forwards.
The second game of the LV was on the 17th
November against Northampton Saints. The second placed team in the league,
Northampton are playing outstandingly well but they had a lot of England internationals
out and Wales’ star winger, George North. This would come as respite for Irish,
but Saints have not got to the top end of the table without good strength in
depth and they overran Irish. Glenn Dickson the Northampton fly-half on the day
kicked twenty-four points as the Saints cruised to a 39-18 win.
What we can assume from O’Connor missing from the last two
games is that they will be saving him entirely for the league. The league will
be the focus now, which is a useful place to be. They still have four LV games
left, with very little chance to qualify. This gives Irish a chance to blood
young players, and build for the future.
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