Wallabies star James O'Connor has rejected criticism of his reaction to Test defeats, saying he is ''gutted'' every time Australia loses and is adamant he wants to achieve more in rugby despite uncertainty around his future.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wallabies great Michael Lynagh took aim at O'Connor after Australia lost to South Africa in an embarrassing defeat last weekend. The sight of O'Connor smiling and laughing with Springbok players infuriated retired Test five-eighth Lynagh.
O'Connor defended himself on Thursday and said he was desperate for a victory.
''You're gutted every time … you're never ready for it. It's not something you enjoy,'' O'Connor said. ''If you could play the game again straight away, you would. I can assure you it definitely hurts.
''I leave everything out on the field, I play my guts out and then after the 80 minutes you congratulate your opponents.
''You don't see what happens behind closed doors in the change rooms.
''You don't want guys moping around after a loss because that's the easy thing to do. You have to start preparing for the next week.''
O'Connor is one of the Wallabies most controversial stars and has been guilty of creating off-field distractions in the past. He was on the outer with teammates after the British and Irish Lions series when a string of behavioural problems - including being photographed at 4am at a fast-food restaurant just days before the second Test - frustrated senior players.
The Wallabies have lost five of their past six Tests and Lynagh hit out at the team.
''Australia are in a huge hole and I think that is because they have got too comfortable,'' Lynagh said after the defeat.
''James O'Connor was laughing with the Springboks at the end and while it's OK to be a good sportsman, I don't think a willy-nilly performance like that hurts them enough.''
The Wallabies will attempt to end a four-Test losing streak when they play Argentina in Perth on Saturday night.
O'Connor is back in the city that launched him to rugby stardom when he was with the Western Force. He is negotiating a new deal with the ARU and the Force after the Melbourne Rebels cut him loose and opted not to re-sign him.
The Canterbury Bulldogs have also expressed interest in a code swap to the NRL and O'Connor is hopeful his playing future will be finalised by the end of next week.
