Oconnor in trouble again?

[GAFFA]

Remind me to never cross any of you blokes......

Just with being ''escorted off the premises by the coppers'' if what JOC is saying is true that it is a Seating issue that got out of hand and had to rebook then of course he would have had to be walked out of Customs you cant just come and go in that place. If it was such a big deal why was he able te rebook and catch another flight? If he was so drunk causing a scene how did he make it past check in, through security, past customs to be pulled up at check in?

Think everyone should just take a step back calm down take a deep breath and chill, and wait to see what comes of the investigation from the ARU (and don’t give me this shit about the ARU will sweep it under the carpet not with link they wont).

For me right now this is a media beat up if the ARU decide that it isn’t then what will be will be but no need to go and hang the bloke right now.

[GIGS20]

Hard call. He certainly deserves to be flicked because he's demonstrated an ability to ignore all advice and fail to keep his nose clean on repeated occasions but I'm not in Force Management and don't know how confident they are of their ability to beat sense into his thick skull.

He's certainly given them ammunition to press for strict protocols in his contract and I would be extremely disappointed if they signed him and we hear another story like this one without him getting the ass immediately.

I'm leaning on the 'go to France' side of the fence, but am happy to give Mick Foley the benefit of the doubt (until the first stuff up)

(not I'm not giving O'Connor the benefit of the doubt anymore, It's now Foles whose judgement I'm waiting on)

[Chili 4auce]

Sounds like JOC put on a better performance at the airport than at Pattersons. I would pay to watch the petulant fool whinge at being kicked off a flight, Randy Marsh style with pants around the ankles declaring "What, we cant drink?, I'm sorry I thought this was Australia"

[James]

Flown with Air Asia many times James and not had a problem.

Hopefully it never happens, but your tune will change very quickly if you do. There are always problems with airlines (lost baggage, etc) but it is how they respond that makes the difference between airlines that are dreadful and airlines that are worth return business.

[Happy]

Sounds like JOC put on a better performance at the airport than at Pattersons. I would pay to watch the petulant fool whinge at being kicked off a flight, Randy Marsh style with pants around the ankles declaring "What, we cant drink?, I'm sorry I thought this was Australia"

[Ralto]

Hopefully it never happens, but your tune will change very quickly if you do. There are always problems with airlines (lost baggage, etc)......

ETC including drunken twats

[chiraag]

Why are these guys getting another week off? Surely they need all the time they can get training together to learn Link's new systems and improve on what has been 4 very ordinary performances in a row!

[jargan83]

Why are these guys getting another week off? Surely they need all the time they can get training together to learn Link's new systems and improve on what has been 4 very ordinary performances in a row!

I do agree with you but it's probably in the RUPA players agreement with the ARU

[shasta]

Flown with Air Asia many times James and not had a problem. In fact we are flying with them again this coming Monday on our way to Nepal

Ditto. We also like that they have signed up with Option Town where you can buy an option for upgrade to a flat bed seat for 75% off (about $100). If you don't get the upgrade there's a full refund. Great for the night flight back to Perth.

[chiraag]

I do agree with you but it's probably in the RUPA players agreement with the ARU

Perhaps therein lies the problem. Surely the captain / coach should take it upon themselves to ask the boys to put their hands up and do a bit of overtime on their own accord since they should realise their performances haven't been up to scratch and the best way to overcome that is some more solid time training together and getting the basics right.

It probably highlights the overall attitude problem with Australian rugby at the moment. I know if I was representing the country and had put in 4 performances like that with clear problems in general technique, etc. I'd be having a word in the changerooms asking for the week off to be cancelled.

Anyway, end rant,

[Alison]

To all those saying give him another chance at the Force but with a very strict "one strike and you're out" contract, my worry is this:

what if Foley builds the team around him (and his undoubted talent) pre-season, the team plays really well for the first few games of the season, he's playing the best rugby of his life and is the Force's 'best on field' every week, the entire team is playing the best rugby of the franchise's life because their tails are up and the confidence is sky high, we're within reach of a finals berth then suddenly JOC stuffs up and he's shown the door, the game plan has to be changed, the team falters because the JOC replacement is not as skilled at playing rugby as JOC is, and we end the season with a few crushing defeats.

How can Foley possibly risk building a team around (and fork out such a huge chunk of the Force's tight budget) on a guy who is so up himself that even senior Wallabies can't knock any sense into him and who has such a long list of priors that he needs a contract that is so tight he could be out on his backside at any moment?

And how would Foley plan for the inevitability of a JOC stuff up? Have an understudy in place ready to take up the reins when the inevitable happens? Who would want to be that guy? Yes I know the same would apply if JOC was injured, but to have to have a plan B in place for when he breaks team rules is plain ridiculous in my book.

And what kind of a business decision would all this be? If Mark Sinderberry is half the buisnessman he's reputed to be, would he really want to take that degree of risk at the point where he's trying to turn around the shipwreck Reid and Graham left him with?

Guess this is a question for me to raise at next week's members' forum.

[jargan83]

Think you will find there are some things in sport that cannot be prepared for

What if JO'C pulls his head out of his arse, tears it pre-season and suffers a season ending injury in the first game.

Same scenario playing out in different circumstances

Thats why people are paid the dollars to make these decisions and I will stand by the Force regardless of what the final decision is

[Tazzmania]

...... I will stand by the Force regardless of what the final decision is

Ditto

My two cents worth: At the moment we are short at least one X factor player, no one else is availble at the moment all other talented players already signed up. Force are in the driving seat offer him a contract with a get out clause for us only if he misbehaves. Worst case scenario looking at Alisons post, we at least get a few nights of absolutely exctacy with the Force actually winning and playing well. (Something we have not had for many years)

[Alison]

Think you will find there are some things in sport that cannot be prepared for

What if JO'C pulls his head out of his arse, tears it pre-season and suffers a season ending injury in the first game.

Same scenario playing out in different circumstances

Thats why people are paid the dollars to make these decisions and I will stand by the Force regardless of what the final decision is

I totally agree re the injury scenario, but that's the same for every player in the squad. I wouldn't have a problem if he was out for the season for an injury - it's a tough contact sport.

But I would be bloody annoyed if he was out coz he simply can't act like a mature and sensible adult. It's not rocket science and he's been told often enough.

But yeah, I will support the Force til the day I die whatever they decide to do.

[palitu]

Growdens most readable piece... ever...

http://www.espnscrum.com/Australia/r...ry/198945.html

Dear James,

I have known you for well over five years now, and as soon as you became part of the Wallabies framework was dazzled by your extroverted personality and innate football skills.

In three decades travelling the world with the Wallabies, I have never met a more confident Australian representative. I have been impressed with your self-belief. Your willingness to take an interviewer head-on. I love how you stare your inquisitor right in the eye and give him your full attention. How can you not like your eagerness in convincing all that you can do anything, your willingness to run through walls and then waltz, pirouette with the best of them.

....