Australia coach Joe Schmidt called up experienced flyhalf James O’Connor into his squad for the three tests against the British & Irish Lions on Friday after losing Noah Lolesio for the series.
Lolesio required neck surgery after suffering whiplash in the victory over Fiji last weekend so 35-year-old O’Connor gets a second shot at facing the Lions after starting at flyhalf in all three tests in 2013, when Australia lost 2-1.
Schmidt made only one other change to his squad for the Fiji game, bringing in Josh Canham to boost his stocks of second-row forwards after the one-cap lock impressed for the Queensland Reds against the Lions.
Powerful lock Will Skelton and loose forward Rob Valetini, who both missed the Fiji game because of calf injuries, were included, as was hooker Dave Porecki despite suffering a concussion in the last-gasp victory over the Pacific islanders.
Jake Gordon, touted in some quarters as a potential captain for the series, also missed the Fiji match with a hamstring strain but retains his place as one of three scrumhalves in the squad with Nic White and Tate McDermott.
“As Wallabies coaches, we have tried to balance continuity with form and freshness, but there were some very tight calls,” Schmidt said in Brisbane, where the series kicks off on July 19.
“We’re conscious of how special it is to play the British and Irish Lions, so for those selected in the squad, they’ll be competing for test jerseys, while also trying to help others prepare.
“We need to improve our accuracy and cohesion with a very short runway leading up to the first test here in eight days. We are excited by what’s to come.”
Winger Corey Toole, who showed his pace to score a try against the Lions for the ACT Brumbies on Wednesday, and flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny, who faced the tourists for Western Force, are the only uncapped players in the 36-man squad.
O’Connor, who played the last of his 64 tests in 2022, has enjoyed a renaissance this year as finishing flyhalf for New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders in their title-winning campaign in Super Rugby Pacific.
He did not start a single match, however, so is likely to be used as a bench option to back up inexperienced playmakers Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh.
Canham, born in the United States but raised in Melbourne, played his only previous international off the bench in the 67-27 loss to Argentina in Santa Fe last year – Australia’s heaviest test defeat.
After the Brisbane opener, Australia play the Lions in further tests in Melbourne and Sydney on the following weekends.
Forwards: 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: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright.
