James O’Connor is back in the Australia fold almost three years after his last Wallabies appearance, with Joe Schmidt picking the veteran fly-half in his 36-man squad to face the British and Irish Lions.
After an injury to Noah Lolesio, his first-choice 10, Schmidt was light on experience at fly-half and has gone for O’Connor, who has just won Super Rugby with the Crusaders and has been picked ahead of veterans Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale.
Ben Donaldson and the callow Tom Lynagh are the other 10s in the squad that will face the Lions in the first Test in Brisbane on 19 July.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, it is very surreal,” O’Connor said.
“I feel like I’ve been building towards this for quite a while in my role for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, tailoring it in a way for a possible opportunity to play in the Lions series.
“Even after Noah’s injury, I still didn’t think I’d made it so to be here right now and be given the opportunity with this group of men, I am bloody excited.”
O’Connor, 35, is now in contention to make some history. He started all three Tests against the Lions in 2013 and is in line to become only the third Australian to take on the tourists in two campaigns in a row.
The flanker George Smith did it in 2001 and 2013 and current prop James Slipper will also do it, barring injury, in the coming weeks.
O’Connor started only one of his 16 Super Rugby Pacific appearances last season, with his standout moment coming against the Blues in April, when he kicked a match-winning penalty in injury time.
“Of course I want the starting spot [in the Lions series],” he added.
“Maybe the other guys have the first bite at the cherry as they were in the first squad. I’ve said to Joe in the past, if there is anything I can do to help with knowledge I can share.
“A Lions series is bigger than a World Cup. I didn’t take it for granted in 2013, I just wasn’t aware of it.
“You usually get one shot at it so you want your aim to be true.”
Crusaders captain David Havili praised O’Connor (second from right) for his influence on the side winning another Super Rugby Pacific title
Schmidt revealed he has been in touch “for a long time” with O’Connor, who has played at two World Cups and been capped 64 times by Australia.
Donaldson, 26, and Lynagh, 22, have a combined total of 20 caps.
“Our 10s are young in experience,” Schmidt said. “I spoke to Tom Lynagh about the influence James had on him and his development [at Queensland Reds] which was positive.
“I spoke to David Havili, who is with the AUNZ Invitational team at the moment. I’ve coached him and have a lot of time for his opinion, and he said James was a real help with the two young 10s at the Crusaders.
“They were all positives and James in his own right has played solidly, coming on at the back end of games for the Crusaders.
“He will be playing catch-up but he is experienced enough to catch up quickly.”
Will Skelton, the man-mountain lock, and Rob Valetini, the powerful back row, both make it despite being troubled by injury. They’re both still fighting to be fit for the opening Test in Queensland.
The gargantuan prop, Taniela Tupou, has been included despite sounding almost resigned to not being involved after numerous injuries have impacted on his influence.
He’s heading for Paris next season but Schmidt is keeping Tupou involved with the Wallabies for now, presumably in the hope that the immense player of a few years back can find himself again.
Schmidt did not name his captain for the series and added he wants to make sure they are “fully fit”.
Number eight Harry Wilson, who scored a late try to defeat Fiji on Sunday in the Wallabies’ only warm-up game, captained the side to that victory and in November against England, Scotland and Ireland.
Squad members Slipper and Skelton have also captained Australia in the past.
“A couple of the guys who have captained us recently have had a few knocks so we just want to be sure once we nominate a captain he is going to follow through,” Schmidt said.
“It is not until they report for duty do you get a hands on look. Harry did have a few things [knocks] from the game on Sunday.
“Harry has led us a couple of times recently. He’d be one of the players at the forefront of our thinking.”
Wallabies squad to face British and Irish Lions
Forwards (20): Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson
Backs (16): Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Lynagh, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright
