Surprise in the Wallabies! James O’Connor starts vs. Springboks in Rugby Championship

The Wallabies are preparing for a return to the past, with veteran James O’Connor set to start in the opening match of the Rugby Championship against the Springboks. Only eight weeks after being excluded from the 36-player Australia squad for 2025, the 33-year-old player, who will join Leicester, is scheduled to wear the number 10 jersey at the famous Ellis Park in Johannesburg. This decision marks an unexpected turn by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who last year had indicated the need to move forward without players like O’Connor, Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley, betting on the emerging trio of Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. However, the injuries of Lolesio, who underwent neck surgery, and then of Tom Lynagh, have forced Schmidt to reconsider his strategy. It was speculated that Schmidt would opt for Donaldson and bring O’Connor from the bench in South Africa, but the New Zealand coach has apparently preferred experience over potential. Donaldson started in two test matches in 2024, with a win over Georgia and a historic defeat to Argentina, raising doubts about his ability to handle the intensity of test rugby from the start. The Western Force player has shown greater confidence coming off the bench at international level, although he put in a solid 47-minute performance as a replacement for Lynagh 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.

James O’Connor ready to start in the opening match of the Australian Rugby Championship against the SpringboksThe 64-Test veteran hasn’t played a match since 2022, when he was called up by then-Wallabies coach Dave Rennie. His form with the Crusaders this season, where he primarily played a finishing role, generated calls for him to be considered again for Wallabies selection, to which Schmidt ultimately agreed by adding the 33-year-old player to his team to face the Lions after 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 has only one victory at Ellis Park, since 1963. However, Australia should at least be prepared for a showdown with the world champions after three difficult encounters with the Lions, and has also retained the services of world-class lock Will Skelton for their two-match tour of South Africa. Schmidt will confirm his 23-player squad on Thursday evening.