Ireland flanker Johnny O’Connor aims to use the memory of last season’s injury frustration to his advantage when he makes his long-awaited Test debut against Tri-Nations champions South Africa at Lansdowne Road in Dublin on Saturday.
O’Connor (24), who owes his chance in part because of injuries to Keith Gleeson and Kieron Dawson, plays his club rugby for English and European champions Wasps.
But an Achilles injury sustained in February forced him to miss the climax of Wasps’ double-winning season.
”The injury was a big blow but these things happen in professional sport. It’s something you have to get over and the experience makes you a stronger person,” O’Connor said on Thursday.
He insisted: ”I’ve definitely come back as a better player. I worked really hard in the gym and focused on other parts of my game that needed to be worked on.
”Things have been getting better for me with Wasps,” O’Connor added. ”I struggled a bit at the start of the season, but the last four or five games have gone well for me.”
Galway-born O’Connor came to Wasps’ notice during a pre-season match against Connacht — with captain and England World Cup-winning back-row Lawrence Dallaglio especially impressed.
Wasps’ Kiwi coach, Warren Gatland — previously in charge of Ireland — signed O’Connor in 2003.
Crossing the Irish Sea at a time when Ireland were increasingly looking to select their Test team from home-based players was a bold move.
But O’Connor has now been rewarded by his country having gained valuable experience playing alongside Dallaglio and current England international Joe Worsley in the Wasps back-row.
”Moving to Wasps was important to me in that the players I have around me have helped a lot. They’ve looked after me. There are a lot of stars at Wasps but no egos — it’s quite a working-class club.”
Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll hailed the inclusion of O’Connor, who will be up against a Springbok back-row featuring the talented AJ Venter.
”The South African game is all about power because they have some big, physical guys,” O’Driscoll said.
”You must match them for strength, which isn’t always easy to do, particularly in Ireland’s circumstances because we have a smaller pack,” the British and Irish Lions centre added.
”But what we might lack in size we hope to make up for by moving them around and that is what you have to do — create the conditions which will suit you,” added O’Driscoll ahead of a match where the Springboks will look to complete the second leg of a Grand Slam after defeating Wales last weekend.
”Hopefully we might see a nice expansive game, particularly with Johnny O’Connor coming in.
”Johnny is very good at disrupting play, and hopefully he’ll be doing that, so I’m looking forward to giving him a pat on the back once or twice throughout the game.” — Sapa-AFP