James O’Connor Returns to Wallabies’ Starting XV
Veteran James O’Connor has been selected to start the opening match of the Rugby Championship for Australia against the Springboks. However, a new injury has marred the team’s preparations. Despite being excluded from Australia’s initial 36-player squad for 2025 just eight weeks ago, 35-year-old O’Connor will wear the number 10 jersey at the famous Ellis Park in Johannesburg. This decision represents a change of direction for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who last year had indicated the need to dispense with players like O’Connor, Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley, betting on young prospects like Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. Lolesio’s injuries, who underwent neck surgery, and Tom Lynagh’s, have forced Schmidt to reconsider his strategy.
The coach added that the severity of Donaldson’s injury is still unknown and that tests will be carried out to determine if it is necessary to look for more alternatives for next week. He also mentioned that several options are being considered to cover the opening position at Ellis Park, including Nic White and Andrew Kellaway. Donaldson’s injury adds to a series of setbacks in training for the Wallabies, with Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Jake Gordon also suffering injuries before or during the series against the British and Irish Lions. Schmidt has maintained faith in the team that defeated the Lions in the last match in Sydney, with O’Connor being the only change in the starting team that achieved the 22-12 victory. For now, Nick Champion de Crespigny is in line for his second match, with Schmidt opting for a more forward player to counter the Springboks, despite the world champions having opted for a 5-3 split. O’Connor hasn’t played since the Crusaders’ victory over the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final, where he entered in the last 90 seconds of the match. His last match with the national team was in 2022, when he was called up by the then Wallabies coach, Dave Rennie. O’Connor’s performance with the Crusaders this season, where he played a substitute role, generated calls for him to be considered again for the Wallabies selection, which Schmidt ultimately did by adding the 35-year-old player to his team to face the Lions following Lolesio’s injury. The weekend’s challenge is immense for O’Connor and the Wallabies, as Australia haven’t beaten the Springboks in South Africa since 2010 and only have one win at Ellis Park, dating back to 1963. However, Australia should be prepared for the encounter with the world champions after three grueling encounters with the Lions, and they have also retained the services of world-class player Will Skelton for their two-match tour of South Africa.“In the penultimate play of the training, Donno kicked the ball and stopped,” Schmidt commented during the team announcement.
Joe Schmidt
Wallabies: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, James O’Connor, Nic White, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, James Slipper. Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Andrew Kellaway.“I think the Springboks have improved their game,” Schmidt said of South Africa. “I have a lot of respect for Tony Brown. I know Felix [Jones] well. Obviously, I worked with Rassie [Erasmus] before, so I think they have a very strong coaching group. Also Jerry Flannery, another Irishman. I expect them to be really strong in the set piece, as they always are. Their kicking and chasing game will be very strong. In any loss of the ball or in any space they have, they have lethal finishers, with [Kurt-Lee] Arendse, [Edwill] van der Merwe. Jesse Kriel is a very strong player. You mentioned yesterday, I remember two years ago, I was working with the All Blacks, but I watched this match from South Africa. He was a colossus and was really difficult for the Australians to contain. That poses a similar problem on Saturday.”
Joe Schmidt
