Brendan Gallagher looks at James O’Connor’s challenge

Stade Felix Mayol or the AJ Bell Stadium? The dazzling Med or misty Manchester? T14 aristocracy or Premiership stalwarts? Those were the choices facing James O’Connor for this season and to the surprise of some he chose Sale, not Toulon where he has spent the last two and a bit years.
Or was it really that much of a surprise? O’Connor might be an occasionally wayward individual but the rugby fires have always burnt fiercely and, at 27, time is running out if he really wants to maximise his very considerable talent...