Wallabies drop major surprise as O’Connor to play No.10 against Springboks

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to pull a major surprise by selecting James O’Connor at No.10 for Australia’s opening Rugby Championship clash against South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday morning (AEST).

O’Connor has not played a Test in nearly three years but is poised to wear the five-eighth jersey against the Springboks, according to informed sources speaking on the condition of anonymity as they did not have permission to discuss team selections.

With Noah Lolesio injured and Tom Lynagh out with a concussion, O’Connor will feature in his first international match since starting in the Wallabies’ 48-17 loss to Argentina in 2022 in San Juan.

Nic White is the frontrunner to start at halfback for the Wallabies, despite announcing his last Test would be the third and final Lions match in Sydney. A hamstring injury to Jake Gordon has meant White’s retirement will be on ice for the foreseeable future.

O’Connor, who had a strong season for the Crusaders, mostly off the bench, was initially on the outer with Schmidt but found himself parachuted into Australia’s squad for the Lions series after Lolesio went down with a neck injury.

He was initially snubbed from Australia’s first 36-man squad of 2025.

O’Connor did not feature in the Lions series, with Lynagh starting in all three Tests of Australia’s 2-1 series loss.

Ben Donaldson was tipped to start for Australia this week, but O’Connor’s inclusion caps a remarkable return to international rugby after almost three years out. Tane Edmed’s hopes of another Test cap will have to wait.

O’Connor’s Test career will now span 16 years and nine months after debuting as an 18-year-old in 2008.

On the downside, O’Connor hasn’t played any rugby since June 21 and only started once for the Crusaders this year in a loss to Moana Pasifika.

It will be a challenge at altitude for O’Connor with so little rugby under his belt in recent weeks.

The Wallabies have not won at Ellis Park since 1963.

The Wallabies won’t name their team until Thursday, while the Springboks announced theirs on Monday ahead of the first match-up between the sides since South Africa scored a 30-12 win in Perth last year.

Australia have not beaten the Springboks in South Africa since a 14-9 victory in 2011 in Durban. O’Connor, who played at fullback that day, kicked three penalty goals.

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper, who played in Australia’s “bloodbath” 42-12 loss in 2023 in Pretoria - their last outing to South Africa - said it was a big week for the team.

“The players would have been proud with game two and three [in the Lions series] and they’ll want to show up and play consistently in a hostile place off just a week’s break,” Hooper said on Stan Sport’s Inside Line program.

“The thing the public loved was players standing up and getting in their face and showing some fight in games two and three [of the Lions series].”

Hooper’s long-time NSW and Australian teammate, Nick Phipps, said the inclusion of O’Connor and White indicated “a little level of protectionism” for the likes of Donaldson, as well as young halfbacks Tate McDermott and Ryan Lonergan.

“I am a little bit [surprised at the selection] but a lot of it makes sense,” Phipps said on Inside Line. “Going into the lion’s den, you need that experience.

“They’ve done it all. It’s the ultimate weigh-up. Are we looking for results or these guys to get experience?

“Setting us up in the first game of the Rugby Championship, it will be good to have those two [O’Connor and White] steering the ship.”