Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who seems pretty confident, says James O’Connor is bringing some serious experience to Australia’s backline. This is like the biggest clue yet that the old-timer will be picked to take on the British and Irish Lions. O’Connor ditched Queensland to go play for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, and guess what? He helped them get to second place on the ladder—pretty cool, right?
Now, Schmidt is saying that O’Connor is a bit of a special case compared to others who went off to Japan or Europe or are planning to do so. He had a good chat with O’Connor, and he’s like, “Hey, James is still playing in our local comp, so it’s all good.” Even though he’s not chilling in Australia right now, Schmidt thinks he still has a shot.
Apparently, O’Connor wanted to challenge himself by joining the Crusaders since the Reds have some young guns like Tom Lynagh and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips tearing it up. Schmidt mentioned that O’Connor’s experience and versatility are vital for the team, especially since the other fly half contenders are pretty fresh.
Lynagh, who got his first taste of Test rugby last year, believes O’Connor has been a great mentor. He thinks if O’Connor keeps killing it on the field, he should definitely get the nod. The Lions are announcing their squad soon, and everyone is curious about who will get the starting spot at 10. It’s a tough decision for Farrell, the Ireland coach, with players like Owen Farrell, Fin Smith, and Sam Prendergast all in the mix.
Schmidt pointed out that the players from the Brumbies and Queensland in the Super Rugby finals could use those games to show they deserve a spot in the national team. It’s like the highest level they can play at outside of Test matches, so it’s a big deal.
Overall, it looks like O’Connor’s experience could be a game-changer for the Wallabies. With so many young players in the mix, having a seasoned pro like him on the team could really make a difference in some big games. And who knows, maybe he’ll be the key to taking down the Lions—fingers crossed!