Schmidt keeps faith with winning Wallabies, but with one major gamble
Having debuted in 2008, O'Connor will now claim the record for the longest Wallabies career at 16 years and 281 days, passing Greg Holmes. He is one of six Wallabies to have played Tests in three different decades.
The 35-year-old had a career renaissance at the Crusaders this year, where he carved a niche as an expert finisher in the Kiwi side's run to a Super Rugby Pacific title. O'Connor only started one game for the Crusaders, however, and it was a loss.
On the bench, the Wallabies have made just one change, with de Crespigny added to a 6-2 bench.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said in a statement: 'The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg.
'There's not many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we're going to need to be at our best on Saturday night.'
Schmidt will address media later on Thursday evening (AEST).
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News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
Veteran James O'Connor backed to ‘run the game' in his Wallabies return
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has no doubts flyhalf James O'Connor will be the 'guy to listen to' when he makes his first appearance for Australia since 2022 this weekend against South Africa in Johannesburg. The return of 35-year-old O'Connor for the injured Tom Lynagh (concussion) has been confirmed as the only change to the Australian team that started in the 22-12 third Test win over the British and Irish Lions in Sydney on August 2. O'Connor was part of the Wallabies' extended squad for the series against the Lions but didn't get any game time. However, Schmidt said the 64-Test veteran was more than ready to call the shots as the Wallabies' main playmaker. 'The good thing with James is he came in right at the start of the Lions series, so he had three weeks with us,' Schmidt said. 'He's had a period to probably just assimilate himself into the systems that we run and to start gaining confidence that he could run the game and the confidence of the players that he was a guy to listen to. 'He's done that really well.' Any doubt whether O'Connor would start or come off the bench was quashed when Ben Donaldson, who replaced Lynagh during the win over the Lions, suffered an injury at training on Thursday. '(O'Connor) brings a lot of experience and it's probably fortuitous because our initial thought was going with Ben Donaldson, who spent more time with us and played the last 50 minutes of that third Test against the British and Irish Lions,' Schmidt said. 'We felt that James was best served and the team was best served by James getting enough reps during the week and having the time in the saddle. 'We've obviously tracked him through the Super Rugby, playing for the Crusaders. I've seen him play for a number of years, probably because he's played for a number of years. '(He has had) a very long career but hasn't played for the Wallabies for three years, so he's pretty excited about that opportunity.' Schmidt said his squad had prepared well for the tough task of facing the world champions on Sunday morning (AEST). 'The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg,' he said. 'There's not many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we're going to need to be at our best.' Wallabies: James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Nic White, James O'Connor, Dylan Pietsch, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Bench: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Andrew Kellaway.
The Advertiser
13 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Schmidt dilemma: Edmed waits on Wallabies' No.10 woes
The Wallabies will ponder eve-of-Test changes to their line-up after a late injury blow forced coach Joe Schmidt into a hasty rethink before their Rugby Championship opener in South Africa. Schmidt is having to consider a rejig to his 23 after playmaker Ben Donaldson, who had been primed to share flyhalf duties with James O'Connor, suffered a leg injury in the penultimate training play of the day in Johannesburg on Thursday. Schmidt has, for the moment, opted against bringing in a third playmaker, Tane Edmed, into his named team to replace Donaldson, preferring instead to name a sixth forward, Nick Champion de Crespigny, on the bench. But the New Zealander later admitted that the one-cap Edmed could still feature in his plans for Saturday's (Sunday AEST) daunting clash at Ellis Park after he has a last look at his options during Friday's final training run. The team he named on Thursday currently features no specialist cover for O'Connor, the 35-year-old veteran who's been thrown into his first Test in three years in the face of a flyhalf crisis following Tom Lynagh's concussion and first-choice Noah Lolesio's absence with a neck injury. Schmidt, who admitted he had originally been planning to use Donaldson as a halftime replacement for O'Connor on Saturday, added: "We're still trying to probably work out what we do to best get that coverage (for O'Connor). "(Scrumhalf) Nic White can maybe cover No.10 and is astute enough to do so, (outside back) Andrew Kellaway has the skill set to cover 10, but it does leave us a little bit light. We know that Tate McDermott covers the wing well. "Tane's in consideration, for sure, he's one of the options" Schmidt added of the 24-year-old. "Our intention was probably to potentially give Tane a run next week (for the second match against the Springboks in Cape Town) after having spent the week with us. "Tane has only had two trainings with us. It's a big ask, but we've got confidence in him." Edmed will be itching to play after his debut for the Wallabies last November against Ireland lasted only three minutes in Dublin when he came on as a 74th-minute sub and got kayoed while making a tackle. "Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, and Hunter Paisani played No.10 in the under-20s and then shifted to 12, plus that gives us really good midfield cover. So there's a few options we're just going to try to get our best coverage and best confidence from," added Schmidt. Donaldson's injury, after his fine 50-minute effort which helped the Wallabies seal a confidence-boosting third-Test win over the British & Irish Lions a fortnight ago, is a real blow. "In the second to last play of the training, 'Donno' kicked the ball and pulled up short so we don't know yet what the extent of the injury is," reported Schmidt. "He will get a scan now and we'll have a definitive picture because we need to know for next week as well whether we need more cover." Otherwise, Schmidt has stuck by the same side that rose to the challenge, defeating the Lions 22-12, as he seeks to steer the Wallabies to their first win at Ellis Park in 62 years following their 11-9 win over the Springboks there in 1963. Australia team: 15–Tom Wright, 14–Max Jorgensen, 13–Joseph Suaalii, 12–Len Ikitau, 11–Dylan Pietsch, 10–James O'Connor, 9–Nic White, 8–Harry Wilson (captain), 7–Fraser McReight, 6–Tom Hooper, 5–Will Skelton, 4–Nick Frost, 3–Taniela Tupou, 2–Billy Pollard, 1–James Slipper Replacements: 16–Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17–Angus Bell, 18–Zane Nonggorr, 19–Jeremy Williams, 20–Langi Gleeson, 21–Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22–Tate McDermott, 23–Andrew Kellaway. The Wallabies will ponder eve-of-Test changes to their line-up after a late injury blow forced coach Joe Schmidt into a hasty rethink before their Rugby Championship opener in South Africa. Schmidt is having to consider a rejig to his 23 after playmaker Ben Donaldson, who had been primed to share flyhalf duties with James O'Connor, suffered a leg injury in the penultimate training play of the day in Johannesburg on Thursday. Schmidt has, for the moment, opted against bringing in a third playmaker, Tane Edmed, into his named team to replace Donaldson, preferring instead to name a sixth forward, Nick Champion de Crespigny, on the bench. But the New Zealander later admitted that the one-cap Edmed could still feature in his plans for Saturday's (Sunday AEST) daunting clash at Ellis Park after he has a last look at his options during Friday's final training run. The team he named on Thursday currently features no specialist cover for O'Connor, the 35-year-old veteran who's been thrown into his first Test in three years in the face of a flyhalf crisis following Tom Lynagh's concussion and first-choice Noah Lolesio's absence with a neck injury. Schmidt, who admitted he had originally been planning to use Donaldson as a halftime replacement for O'Connor on Saturday, added: "We're still trying to probably work out what we do to best get that coverage (for O'Connor). "(Scrumhalf) Nic White can maybe cover No.10 and is astute enough to do so, (outside back) Andrew Kellaway has the skill set to cover 10, but it does leave us a little bit light. We know that Tate McDermott covers the wing well. "Tane's in consideration, for sure, he's one of the options" Schmidt added of the 24-year-old. "Our intention was probably to potentially give Tane a run next week (for the second match against the Springboks in Cape Town) after having spent the week with us. "Tane has only had two trainings with us. It's a big ask, but we've got confidence in him." Edmed will be itching to play after his debut for the Wallabies last November against Ireland lasted only three minutes in Dublin when he came on as a 74th-minute sub and got kayoed while making a tackle. "Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, and Hunter Paisani played No.10 in the under-20s and then shifted to 12, plus that gives us really good midfield cover. So there's a few options we're just going to try to get our best coverage and best confidence from," added Schmidt. Donaldson's injury, after his fine 50-minute effort which helped the Wallabies seal a confidence-boosting third-Test win over the British & Irish Lions a fortnight ago, is a real blow. "In the second to last play of the training, 'Donno' kicked the ball and pulled up short so we don't know yet what the extent of the injury is," reported Schmidt. "He will get a scan now and we'll have a definitive picture because we need to know for next week as well whether we need more cover." Otherwise, Schmidt has stuck by the same side that rose to the challenge, defeating the Lions 22-12, as he seeks to steer the Wallabies to their first win at Ellis Park in 62 years following their 11-9 win over the Springboks there in 1963. Australia team: 15–Tom Wright, 14–Max Jorgensen, 13–Joseph Suaalii, 12–Len Ikitau, 11–Dylan Pietsch, 10–James O'Connor, 9–Nic White, 8–Harry Wilson (captain), 7–Fraser McReight, 6–Tom Hooper, 5–Will Skelton, 4–Nick Frost, 3–Taniela Tupou, 2–Billy Pollard, 1–James Slipper Replacements: 16–Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17–Angus Bell, 18–Zane Nonggorr, 19–Jeremy Williams, 20–Langi Gleeson, 21–Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22–Tate McDermott, 23–Andrew Kellaway. The Wallabies will ponder eve-of-Test changes to their line-up after a late injury blow forced coach Joe Schmidt into a hasty rethink before their Rugby Championship opener in South Africa. Schmidt is having to consider a rejig to his 23 after playmaker Ben Donaldson, who had been primed to share flyhalf duties with James O'Connor, suffered a leg injury in the penultimate training play of the day in Johannesburg on Thursday. Schmidt has, for the moment, opted against bringing in a third playmaker, Tane Edmed, into his named team to replace Donaldson, preferring instead to name a sixth forward, Nick Champion de Crespigny, on the bench. But the New Zealander later admitted that the one-cap Edmed could still feature in his plans for Saturday's (Sunday AEST) daunting clash at Ellis Park after he has a last look at his options during Friday's final training run. The team he named on Thursday currently features no specialist cover for O'Connor, the 35-year-old veteran who's been thrown into his first Test in three years in the face of a flyhalf crisis following Tom Lynagh's concussion and first-choice Noah Lolesio's absence with a neck injury. Schmidt, who admitted he had originally been planning to use Donaldson as a halftime replacement for O'Connor on Saturday, added: "We're still trying to probably work out what we do to best get that coverage (for O'Connor). "(Scrumhalf) Nic White can maybe cover No.10 and is astute enough to do so, (outside back) Andrew Kellaway has the skill set to cover 10, but it does leave us a little bit light. We know that Tate McDermott covers the wing well. "Tane's in consideration, for sure, he's one of the options" Schmidt added of the 24-year-old. "Our intention was probably to potentially give Tane a run next week (for the second match against the Springboks in Cape Town) after having spent the week with us. "Tane has only had two trainings with us. It's a big ask, but we've got confidence in him." Edmed will be itching to play after his debut for the Wallabies last November against Ireland lasted only three minutes in Dublin when he came on as a 74th-minute sub and got kayoed while making a tackle. "Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, and Hunter Paisani played No.10 in the under-20s and then shifted to 12, plus that gives us really good midfield cover. So there's a few options we're just going to try to get our best coverage and best confidence from," added Schmidt. Donaldson's injury, after his fine 50-minute effort which helped the Wallabies seal a confidence-boosting third-Test win over the British & Irish Lions a fortnight ago, is a real blow. "In the second to last play of the training, 'Donno' kicked the ball and pulled up short so we don't know yet what the extent of the injury is," reported Schmidt. "He will get a scan now and we'll have a definitive picture because we need to know for next week as well whether we need more cover." Otherwise, Schmidt has stuck by the same side that rose to the challenge, defeating the Lions 22-12, as he seeks to steer the Wallabies to their first win at Ellis Park in 62 years following their 11-9 win over the Springboks there in 1963. Australia team: 15–Tom Wright, 14–Max Jorgensen, 13–Joseph Suaalii, 12–Len Ikitau, 11–Dylan Pietsch, 10–James O'Connor, 9–Nic White, 8–Harry Wilson (captain), 7–Fraser McReight, 6–Tom Hooper, 5–Will Skelton, 4–Nick Frost, 3–Taniela Tupou, 2–Billy Pollard, 1–James Slipper Replacements: 16–Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17–Angus Bell, 18–Zane Nonggorr, 19–Jeremy Williams, 20–Langi Gleeson, 21–Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22–Tate McDermott, 23–Andrew Kellaway.
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Perth Now
O'Connor at No.10 as Wallabies suffer more injury woe
Veteran James O'Connor has been called on to take on the playmaking duties as the Wallabies seek to build on the impetus of their Lions' third-Test win with a rare victory in South Africa at the start of the Rugby Championship. But a plan for the 35-year-old O'Connor, back in the green and gold after three years, to share the No.10 role has had to be shelved after Ben Donaldson went down injured in training on Thursday. The idea had been for O'Connor to play the first 40 minutes with Donaldson coming on after the break but the injury has left the Wallabies looking at risky alternatives in the playmaking department as they get set to face the world champions in Johannesburg on Saturday (Sunday AEST). "In the second to last play of the training, 'Donno' kicked the ball and pulled up short so we don't know what the extent of the injury is," coach Joe Schmidt revealed after naming the team. "We've only been back from training for about an hour so he will get a scan now and we'll have a definitive picture because we need to know for next week as well whether we need more cover. "Nic White can cover No.10 and is astute enough to do so, Andrew Kellaway has the skill set as well if we go with what we've got at the moment." The inclusion of the 35-year-old O'Connor at No.10 is the only change to the starting XV that defeated the British & Irish Lions 22-12 in Sydney a fortnight ago, as he comes into the side after Tom Lynagh suffered a concussion in that encouraging victory. O'Connor, who helped New Zealand outfit Crusaders win the Super Rugby title this season, hasn't played for the Wallabies since 2022 but still looks the safest pair of hands after all the fly-half woes Schmidt has had to contend with, what with first-choice Noah Lolesio also out with neck trouble. O'Connor's halfback partner will be another veteran, White, who has doubled back on his decision to retire after the Lions series when first choice Jake Gordon got injured. Donaldson's injury has necessitated a late change to the planned bench with Schmidt having to replace the versatile back with loose forward Nick Champion de Crespigny. That means Australia will go from a five-three to six-two split between forwards and backs among the replacements. Yet Schmidt sounded upbeat as he noted: "The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg. "There's not many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we're going to need to be at our best on Saturday night." Australia are seeking their first win at Ellis Park since 1963, when they beat South Africa 11-9. Australia team: 15–Tom Wright, 14–Max Jorgensen, 13–Joseph Suaalii, 12–Len Ikitau, 11–Dylan Pietsch, 10–James O'Connor, 9–Nic White, 8–Harry Wilson (captain), 7–Fraser McReight, 6–Tom Hooper, 5–Will Skelton, 4–Nick Frost, 3–Taniela Tupou, 2–Billy Pollard, 1–James Slipper Replacements: 16–Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17–Angus Bell, 18–Zane Nonggorr, 19–Jeremy Williams, 20–Langi Gleeson, 21–Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22–Tate McDermott, 23–Andrew Kellaway.
