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Greg Growden Chief Rugby Correspondent | June 10, 2009
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans yesterday stuck to his pledge of turning teenager James O'Connor into a fully fledged starting Test player by promoting him to fullback for the first of two internationals against Italy, in Canberra on Saturday night.
The phenomenal Western Force utility player has blossomed under Deans's tutelage, first getting his chance on last year's end-of-season tour - when the 18-year-old made his Test debut off the bench against Italy in Padova - and then excelling at fullback against the Barbarians at Wembley in the tour finale. The carrot of starting a Test was again dangled a few weeks ago when Deans took O'Connor out of the Australian under-20s World Cup squad and moved him into the Wallabies training contingent because the coach believed the youngster's time had come.
The plan, set out several weeks ago, was for the incumbent Test fullback, Adam Ashley-Cooper, to play against the Barbarians and for O'Connor to make his Test starting debut against Italy the following week. After Ashley-Cooper performed strongly in the 48-point win over the Barbarians in Sydney, there was the possibility the plan might be tinkered with, and the O'Connor promotion delayed a week.
But no, O'Connor's immediate impact off the bench against the Barbarians on Saturday night, when he scored after taking the field midway during the second half, was the sealer. O'Connor and Ashley-Cooper swap positions this week, with team management last night stressing that Ashley-Cooper's move to the bench "did not reflect any disappointment" in how he played against the Barbarians. O'Connor was delighted to gain the starting spot. He said he has had his "eyes on this position for quite a while".
Deans said yesterday it was now up to O'Connor to prove he was of the required standard.
"James is clearly a talent, but you need more than that from this point on," Deans said. "There will now be less time and space, so his decision-making will become the priority, because you can't play the game as an individual.
"But he's already shown he sees things, and makes things happen. He's a pretty good decision-maker, and when he makes a poor decision, he's often able to get himself out of danger."
The other change was Dean Mumm moving into the blindside breakaway position, left vacant by the unavailability of the injured Rocky Elsom and Matt Hodgson, while fellow Waratahs Lote Tuqiri and Phil Waugh remain out of the 22-man squad. ACT utility forward Peter Kimlin moves onto the bench.
And while Italy coach Nick Mallett is pushing the line that his side will be thrashed by the Wallabies, the Australians are ignoring him.
They think back to last November and how that supposedly hopeless Italy team came so close to beating them in Padova. It was only a cheeky solo try by replacement five-eighth Quade Cooper in the 72nd minute that saved Australia, who scrambled to an unimpressive 30-20 victory.
Mumm was No.6 that day and hasn't forgotten. When asked what he thought of Mallett deliberately playing down Italy's chances, Mumm replied: "I don't think any of us who played in Padova that afternoon will be reiterating those comments.
"Italy were a very tough side, and succeeded in keeping themselves in the game.
What really strikes you about them is their physicality and enthusiasm. They just keep lining up in defence, where they want to bash you. They love that physical nature of the game and they really get stuck in. There was so much passion involved in it."
Deans laughed off Mallett's sentiments, saying: "It's part of his routine. You can be sure behind closed doors he won't be saying that. And you can be sure his players won't be believing it. If I heard it from the players, then I would be interested."
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