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O'Connor's position undecided
- Bret Harris
- From: The Australian
- September 13, 2010 12:00AM
NEW Western Force coach Richard Graham is undecided about where to play James O'Connor in the Super 15 next year.
But he has not ruled out using him in his current Test position on the wing.
Graham, who has replaced Force foundation coach John Mitchell, stood down yesterday from his role as Australia assistant coach to focus on his head coaching duties.
O'Connor has played five-eighth, inside centre and fullback for the Force, but he has played on the wing during the Tri-Nations tournament.
Asked whether he would consider O'Connor as a winger, Graham said: "We'll see how he continues to develop on the (Wallabies) tour and depending who we've got fit and available, he could play on the wing definitely.
"If I think that's his best position going forward that will benefit us, he'll play there.
"At the moment his best position is where he is playing. The way the game is at the moment with the team throwing the ball out, there tends to be a lot of space in those outside channels. If you've got a guy who can beat someone as well as he can, why not play him there?
"The one noticeable aspect of his game that he has worked hard on is his distribution. If he can continue to work on that, you'll see him closer to the action."
Graham, who also acted as Mitchell's assistant at the Force, was looking forward to introducing new ideas to the team.
"I'd like to incorporate our forwards into the game a little more."
Graham said his biggest disappointment at leaving the Wallabies was that he thought they were a genuine chance to win the World Cup in New Zealand next year.
"The side is finally starting to believe what they are capable of and that's been evident in the last three games," Graham said.
"It doesn't mean the team is going to go on and perform well on the back of that, but we have seen signs the side is definitely improving."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225919890543