JOC Shocker: O’Connor Starts for Wallabies vs. Springboks in Rugby Championship

The Wallabies are preparing for a return to the past, with veteran James O’Connor on track to start in the first Rugby Championship match against the Springboks. Only eight weeks after being left out of Australia’s initial 36-player squad for 2025, the 33-year-old player, who is heading to Leicester, is set to wear the number 10 jersey at the famous Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The inclusion of O’Connor represents a change of direction by the Wallabies coach, Joe Schmidt, who last year declared that Australia should move forward and leave aside players like O’Connor, Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley, betting on the emerging trio of Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. However, injuries to Lolesio, who underwent neck surgery, and then to Tom Lynagh, have forced Schmidt to reconsider his options. It was thought that Schmidt would turn to Donaldson and bench O’Connor in South Africa, but the coach has apparently opted for experience over potential. Donaldson started in two matches in 2024, with a win over Georgia and a loss to Argentina. There are still concerns about his ability to handle the intensity of high-level rugby from the start. The Western Force player has shown greater confidence coming off the bench at the international level, but he had a solid 47-minute performance as Lynagh’s replacement in the 22-12 victory over the Lions in Sydney. O’Connor, for his part, hasn’t played since the Crusaders’ victory over the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final, where he came off the bench in the last 90 seconds of his team’s 16-12 victory.

The veteran of 64 international matches hasn’t played a match since 2022, when he was called up by the then Wallabies coach, Dave Rennie. His form with the Crusaders this season, where he mainly played a finishing role, led to calls for his consideration for Wallabies selection once more, which Schmidt ultimately heeded when he added the 33-year-old to his squad to face the Lions following Lolesio’s injury. The weekend’s challenge couldn’t be more difficult for O’Connor or the Wallabies, as Australia hasn’t beaten the Springboks in South Africa since 2011 and only has one victory at Ellis Park, since 1963. But Australia should be prepared to face the world champions after three encounters with the Lions. In addition, they have retained the services of world-class lock Will Skelton for their two-match tour of South Africa. Schmidt will confirm his 23 players on Thursday evening.