Wallabies wing James O'Connor was one of the star performers in this year's Tri-Nations © Getty Images

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Matches: Barbarians 26 - 20 South Africa

Players/Officials: James O'Connor

Tournaments/Tours: South Africa tour

Teams: Australia | South Africa

James O'Connor is hoping to cap a remarkable year by helping the Barbarians claim the scalp of the Springboks at Twickenham on Saturday.

The 20-year-old Australian has been one of the stories of 2010, having established himself as one of the brightest young attacking talents in world rugby with a string of scintillating performances for the Wallabies.

A pacy winger with quick feet and an eye for a gap, O'Connor is also blessed with a powerful right foot and he was recently installed as Australia's primary goal-kicker.

All in all, it has been a meteoric rise to stardom for O'Connor, made all the more remarkable by the fact that four years ago he almost died after rupturing his spleen during a schoolboy match.

"My parents were pretty worried at the time," he said. "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."

As are the Wallabies, for whom O'Connor has been a stand-out performer this year. So impressive has he been, in spite of his tender years, that head coach Robbie Deans had no doubts about turning to O'Connor after Matt Giteau decided to abdicate the goal-kicking responsibilities.

O'Connor did not have his most productive day with the boot at Twickenham three weeks ago when he missed his first three strikes on goal in the Wallabies' 35-18 defeat by England. However, it was an experience that O'Connor intends to learn from.

"No excuses," he said. "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.

"I guess it was 'Welcome to international rugby' as a goal-kicker. It's the sort of pressure you have to withstand. You've just not to let it play on your mind. You've got to be in the moment every time you play to kick your best."

England impressed all and sundry with their exciting and dynamic style of play that day and O'Connor is now in no doubt that Martin Johnson's men are genuine World Cup contenders.

"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," he said. "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."