Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt could spring a massive surprise at flyhalf for Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship test against the Springboks by bringing back veteran Wallaby James O’Connor.
O’Connor, who hasn’t played for the Wallabies since 2022, looks set to start the test ahead of Ben Donaldson after injuries during the British and Irish Lions series robbed the Wallabies of two flyhalves in Noah Lolesio and Tom Lynaugh.
O’Connor had an exceptional season in Super Rugby Pacific for the Crusaders and was called up to the Wallabies squad for the Lions tour but never used. The injuries and the threat the Boks pose seems to have convinced Schmidt that this is the time to use the veteran, according to a report in The Roar.
Schmidt is not set to make many changes, and the rest of the match day 23 is set to be very similar to the team that beat the Lions in the third test, giving them a vote of confidence for their impressive display in Sydney.
That means the likes of Will Skelton, Taniela Tupou and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will face the Boks as the tourists look to upset the World Champions and continue their upward momentum from the Lions series.
Rob Valentini isn’t likely to feature this week with a calf injury still plaguing him, but Schmidt is looking to use the confidence from the third test win to take on the Boks at altitude.
O’Connor last played for the Wallabies in the 48-17 loss to Los Pumas in 2022, and Dave Rennie cast him aside after that, with Eddie Jones not using him and Schmidt opting for youth in his first year in charge.
His wonderful season with the Crusaders has seen him sign with Leicester Tigers for next season and it seems he is enjoying his resurgence in rugby, with another test cap beckoning.
O’Connor previously revealed how he found out he was in the Wallabies squad for the Lions tour, after making a stop by the team hotel to wish the team well.
“I thought it had passed. I had a few conversations with the boys who found out last night,” O’Connor said.
“Me and the wife went in [to Brisbane], got my visa and then I just saw a couple of the boys on the corner, literally about 100 metres up the road.
“I drove the car up there and pulled it around just to say good luck for the tour.”
“Two minutes later, Joe comes walking out, and he’s like, ‘man, I tried to call you!’,” O’Connor recalled to reporters about his shock return last month.
“I was like, ‘oh, you can give me the bad news now then’… and he’s like, ‘no, you’re in. You better get home and pack your bags.’ We’ve got an hour until the release.
“I thought he [Joe] was joking … because everyone was already at the hotel and everyone knew. The boys always say, if you get a call … no news is good news, apparently. He’d given me a call.
“He shook my hand and told me – and I was double-checking. I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ Honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet. Genuinely, it’s very surreal.”
And now O’Connor will face the Boks at Ellis Park, capping a remarkable return.