RUGBY:The 20-year-old wing is part of a dazzling backline which has transformed the Wallabies, writes PAUL REES

WAS IT only a year ago that there was a weary despair about the direction professional rugby was taking with aerial bombardments seeing players reach for the skies? Now they are reaching for the stars, led by Australia’s six-strong brat pack who play without fear or inhibition.

James O’Connor is only 20 but he showed the sang-froid of a veteran against New Zealand in Hong Kong last weekend, not only having the composure to score the winning try with the final move of the match but the nerve to nail two wide-angled conversions while the more experienced Stephen Donald missed a more straightforward penalty that would have taken the All Blacks to safety.

O’Connor will win his 25th cap against Wales in Cardiff today, as part of the most dazzling backline in international rugby.

Matt Giteau is the old man at 28, looking after the 22-year-old halfbacks, Will Genia and Quade Cooper, while the fullback, Kurtley Beale, is 21.

Factor in the 22-year-old back-rows David Pocock and Ben McCalman and three 21-year-olds in the squad for this month’s tour, led by reputedly the quickest player in the Super 15, Rod Davies, and the Wallabies have the nucleus of a side for the next three World Cups.

O’Connor could have played for New Zealand, where his father was born, or South Africa, from where his mother hails.

He spent part of his childhood in New Zealand, watching Carlos Spencer and Christian Cullen with admiration, and he is infused with their daring and flair.

Playing without fear, Australia have no boundaries.

“I was happy with the result in Hong Kong, but you cannot hang on to cloud nine for too long,” O’Connor says.

“You have to keep moving forward. Things have gone well for me, but I have a lot of improving to do.

“My game is nowhere near complete and I am learning all the time.”

Australia have not been afraid to put O’Connor and Cooper before the media this week. Both have emphasised, repeatedly, that the Wallabies’ resurgence has been down to the forwards as much as the backs and that they are a team, not a collection of individuals, but last weekend’s third try against New Zealand, which swung the game away from the All Blacks, came from a back-pedalling scrum on the halfway line. Instinct and pace inspired one of the tries of any year.

“We enjoy our rugby,” says O’Connor, who can play at full-back and in midfield.

“Coach Robbie Deans has placed his faith in me and that gives me confidence and belief. I have a licence to roam and with guys like Matt and Quade inside you, there are plenty of opportunities and one-on-ones out wide.

“I was 18 when I was first selected in the squad and there were times when I wondered what I was doing there but the feeling now is one of excitement.”

O’Connor has scored five tries in his past four Tests, three against South Africa and two against the All Blacks. He will come up against the experienced Shane Williams today and the Welshman is impressed with how quickly his opposite number has developed.

“He plays as if he is experienced at international level, not like a 20-year-old,” Williams says.

“When I was that age, I was nowhere near where he is now. I like the way he looks to get involved, popping up all over the field, and that is how I like to play the game. He is a gutsy player with great feet and likes taking on defenders. He is full of confidence and that makes him dangerous.”

O’Connor appreciates that facing Williams will be another marker in his development.

“I rate him as one of the best wings in the world. He will he hard to contain. He is very quick, has good footwork and he can fill the ball-playing role. He will be a massive threat to us.”

With Giteau surrendering the goal-kicking duties while he hones a new technique, O’Connor will assume the role today. He kicked nine points in the first Test against England last June, to go with 10 he claimed with the boot for Australian Barbarians over the tourists earlier in the week, but he was only twice used as a kicker in the Tri-Nations, when Giteau was replaced late on in matches.

“Kicking does not faze me,” O’Connor says.

“I concentrate on the process, taking the kick and striking the ball properly. Everything else you block out.”