O'Connor out to cap fine year in style

RUGBY: JAMES O’CONNOR is hoping a “whirlwind year” will end with a spectacular finale at Twickenham today

RUGBY:JAMES O'CONNOR is hoping a "whirlwind year" will end with a spectacular finale at Twickenham today. The precocious Australia wing ticks off another of his must-do ambitions when he turns out for the Barbarians at fullback against South Africa.

The 20-year-old has been fast-tracked through to the first team, and now also has the goal-kicking duties after taking over from Matt Giteau.

Not that it worked that well at Twickenham three weeks ago when he missed his first three kicks in a match Australia lost 35-18 against a free-running England side.

“No excuses,” said O’Connor. “My range is about 40 to 50 metres and they were all at the end of that mark. First one I shanked, the next two just missed as well.

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“I guess it was ‘Welcome to international rugby’ as a goal-kicker. It’s the sort of pressure you have to withstand.”

He has a chance to redeem himself at the same venue this afternoon. “It’s pretty exciting,” added O’Connor, who is among six Australians in the Barbarians side which includes five All Blacks plus Italy’s Salvatore Perugini and Martyn Williams from Wales.

BARBARIANS: O’Connor (Aus); Rococoko (NZ), Mitchell (Aus), Ashley-Cooper (Aus), Nonu (NZ); Giteau (Aus, capt), Genia (Aus); Perugini (It), Moore (Aus), Tialata (NZ), Van Zyl (Stormers), Jack (NZ), So’oialo (NZ), Williams (Wal), Bourke (Chiefs). Replacements: Mealamu (NZ), Yapp (Wal), Geldenhuys (It), Braid (NZ), Ellis (NZ), Donald (NZ), Rabeni (Fij).

SOUTH AFRICA: Lambie; Ndungane, Jacobs, Andries Strauss, Mvovo; Jantjies, F Hougaard; Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss , Van der Linde, Botha, A Hargreaves, Alberts, Smith, Kankowski. Replacements: Maku, Mtawarira, AN Other, Van der Merwe, Daniel, McLeod, Aplon.