James O’Connor will face the British and Ireland Lions against the Wallabies for a second time after the veteran is recalled to the Australian team by coach Joe Schmidt.
O’Connor, 35, is a major inclusion in the 36-man team announced in Brisbane on Friday afternoon, and Schmidt relied on a 64-cap utility after Noah Reracio was removed from the series with a neck injury.
Queenslander started out as a fly half in the final test of the 2013 Lions Series, with tourists trying out before the match and series escaped into the second half. He and Australia’s most capped wallabies, Prop Slippers, have been the only survivor for 12 years.
O’Connor joined Ben Donaldson and Tom Linag as Schmidt’s options in the fly half, but also received the appeal of Rising Reds’ Rock Rock Josh Cansham.
Schmidt on Sunday rejected an appeal to add experienced playmakers to his team, claiming that the group he had at his disposal could do his job against the lion. However, news of Lolesio’s injury on Tuesday clearly changed the minds of Kiwi. Last week, O’Connor was given to Tane Edmed, who trained at Wallabies.
O’Connor last played for the Wallabies in 2022 under Dave Rennie. He spent this season with the Crusaders, offering an experienced alternative to the club’s Rising young playmaker, and later came off the bench in a dying stage where he defeated the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific Finals.
Meanwhile, Cansham produced an eye-catching effort to win his place in the Wallabies squad last week in the Reds’ 52-12 defeat by the Lions. Former Melbourne Rebel Lock gives Schmidt another second row outside Will Skeleton, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams and Tom Hooper. Canham joins the team at the expense of Western Force Rock d’Arse Swain.
Taniela Tupou, meanwhile, held his position on the team, but Dave Polecchi was also named after him despite knocking his head in Australia’s 21-18 victory in Fiji last Sunday.
“As the Wallabies coach, we tried to balance continuity with form and freshness, but we had some very tough calls,” Schmidt said through a media release.
“We are aware of how special it is to play the British and Irish lion, so for those selected in the team, they are trying to compete in test jerseys and help others prepare. We need to improve the accuracy and cohesion with the very short runway leading up to the first test in eight days later.”
“We’re excited about what’s going forward.”
Schmidt will bring the media to the front late Friday afternoon.
The Wallabies are to face the lions of England and Ireland
forward: Alan Arratoa, Angus Bell, Josh Cansham, Nick Champion de Crespine, Matt Fessler, Nick Frost, Rangi Gleason, Tom Hooper, Fraser McCreight, Zane Nongo, Billy Pollard, David Polecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skeleton, James Slipper, Carlo Chizano, Tanaira Toop, Wilson.
back: Fripu Daugnu, Ben Donaldson, Golmon, Len Ikita, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Keraway, Linty Linfan, Tate Doss, James O’Connent, Harry Lampi, Dillon Potter, Joseph, Joseph, Corey Potters, Corey Touring, Coy Tool Tool.