Johnny’s back home

Date Published: 16-Aug-2007

In the Autumn of 2004, flamboyant flanker Johnny O’Connor made his international debut against South Africa. On Tuesday next, he has the opportunity to lock horns with the Springboks again. This time though in the shirt of Connacht.

O’Connor could be forgiven if he has mixed emotions going into that pre-season friendly. Unlucky to miss out on a place in Ireland’s World Cup squad travelling to France, the Galway City native must now turn his focus on getting his career, often threatened by injury in recent seasons, back on track with a solid showing at the Sportsground.

If any player can do that, then it is the affable O’Connor, who believes his lack of ‘big’ games with club and country over the past year cost him a plane ticket to the World Cup finals.

“I didn’t play any big games to be honest. I did play in the Churchill Cup (with Ireland’s third string) and I played well in that, but I don’t think it was the same level of intensity that you would have at full international level,” says the 27- year-old.

“So I really didn’t…..