A slogfest awaits James O’Connor in his Super Rugby return but the new Queensland Reds flyhalf believes he has the added maturity to handle the playmaking responsibilities better than ever before.

As wild weather lashes Brisbane in the lead-up to Saturday night’s Suncorp Stadium clash with the Western Force, former Wallaby utility O’Connor said his recent stint in France left him well equipped to steer the ship for Queensland.

“I had a fair bit of time over in Toulon playing at 10,” he said.

“In that situation – especially that French environment, where the language barrier really can show you out – I had to really work on my game as a 10.

“I played ball-playing roles in schoolboys and as a younger player, but my natural instincts still took over.

“Growing into that position, all the best 10s are visual – they can feel the environment around them and get gauges of the opposition off what their teammates are doing, and play the pressure plays.”

Coach Richard Graham has faith that O’Connor can do exactly that and has shuffled incumbent Karmichael Hunt back to the fullback position he was groomed to play in since his off-season arrival from AFL.

It was only a few weeks ago that Graham was adamant he would only consider 24-year-old O’Connor on the wing, but Quade Cooper’s injury and Duncan Paia’aua’s inexperience forced his hand.

O’Connor’s move means he resumes a halves combination with Will Genia previously seen for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions.

“We ran a bit last week leading into the Brumbies game with James at 10 and I thought the game flowed well around him,” Graham said.

“Looking at the conditions this week, it’s been fairly obvious for a while it’s going to be bucketing down.

“Karmichael’s given the team a lot of confidence playing 15. His communication’s excellent, obviously his courage and commitment in defence, and his kicking. That ultimately made my mind up.”

With nearly half a metre of rain set to fall in south-east Queensland before Saturday’s match, the need for an improved performance from the Reds forwards – who were humiliated by the Brumbies in Canberra last week – has only heightened.

Graham made just one change to his pack, with big-name signing Adam Thomson coming in for Curtis Browning at blindside flanker.

But O’Connor said every player needed to improve after their listless round one performance.

“I went through that game, through everything. It was not one player or one incident, we got beaten off the ball in every facet of that game,” he said.