James O'Connor hopes to end whirlwind year on a high with Barbarians

The precocious Australia wing ticks off another of his must-do ambitions when he turns out for the Barbarians at full-back in the MasterCard trophy match against South Africa (kick-off 2.30pm).

It is all the sweeter for 20-year-old O'Connor because four years ago rugby almost cost him his life. He ruptured his spleen in a schoolboy rugby smash-about, an injury which kept him sidelined for more than six months and which might have had even more dire consequences.

O'Connor said: "My parents were pretty worried at the time. I was pretty close to passing away, although I didn't realise it at the time.

"I stumbled up to the health centre and just passed out there. Thankfully there was some quick thinking by the nurses at my high school.

"They were quick to call an ambulance. First they thought it was just a dislocated shoulder and some broken ribs but someone had the right idea that it might be internal bleeding and I'm thankful for that."

It did not dim O'Connor's dream to pull on the Australian jersey and after a fast-track through to the first team, he now also has the goal-kicking duties after taking over from Matt Giteau.

Not that it worked that well at Twickenham three weeks ago when he missed his first three kicks in a match Australia lost 35-18 against a free-running England side.

"No excuses," said O'Connor. "My range is about 40 to 50 metres and they were all at the end of that mark. First one I shanked, the next two just missed as well."

The style with which England won that match convinced O'Connor that Martin Johnson's side have a shot at next year's World Cup.

He said: "We hadn't seen England play that style of rugby. It was good to see what England could do. Everyone knows they are a pretty physical nation and they go forward very well.

"England are definitely up in the mix. The All Blacks are still the leaders setting the benchmark but England are up there with us and South Africa.

"I've been dreaming about the World Cup since I was about five years old. I've always wanted to play in a World Cup. It's going to be an awesome competition. Right now I'm focused on Saturday. I jumped at playing for the Barbarians. It's pretty exciting."

O'Connor, who has a New Zealand father and a South African mother, is among six Australians in the Barbarians side which includes five All Blacks and has more of a look of an ANZAC XV than a Barbarians team, plus Italy's Salvatore Perugini and Martyn Williams from Wales.

Two uncapped players are also included - Chiefs number eight Colin Bourke and Western Province captain and second-row Anton van Zyl.

Barbarians: J O'Connor (Aus), J Rococoko (NZ), D Mitchell (Aus), A Ashley-Cooper (Aus), M Nonu (NZ), M Giteau (Aus, capt), W Genia (Aus); S Perugini (It), S Moore (Aus), N Tialata (NZ), A Van Zyl (Stormers), C Jack (NZ), R So'oialo (NZ), M Williams (Wal), C Bourke (Chiefs). Replacements: K Mealamu (NZ), J Yapp (Wal), Q Geldenhuys (It), D Braid (NZ), A Ellis (NZ), S Donald (NZ), S Rabeni (Fij).

South Africa: P Lambie; O Ndungane, A Jacobs, A Strauss, L Mvovo; E Jantjies, F Hougaard; C Oosthuizen, A Strauss, CJ van der Linde, B Botha, A Hargreaves, W Alberts, J Smith (captain), R Kankowski. Replacements: B Maku, T Mtawarira, AN Other, F van der Merwe, K Daniel, C McLeod, G Aplon.