Desperate Wallabies call in veteran from Morocco to save Spring Tour from becoming a historic shambles
Veteran fly-half James O’Connor has cut short a holiday in Morocco and will wear the Wallabies No.10 jersey in Sunday’s (AEDT) clash with Ireland in Dublin.
O’Connor, 35, was overlooked Joe Schmidt’s initial squad for the northern hemisphere tour, but as Australia look to avoid a sixth defeat from their past seven matches, the Kiwi coached has opted for experience in the halves.
Carter Gordon’s quadriceps issue also forced Schmidt’s hand, with O’Connor to start ahead of Tane Edmed.
‘He (Gordon) pulled up immediately (against Italy) after making a kick, his quad cramped up, and we just think it’s a bit of a risk to put him back out there this week,’ Schmidt said.
‘So that’s ruled Carter out, so it left us with Tane, and that’s one of the reasons we brought James back in, and Tane’s had quite a busy schedule in recent times.
‘We’ve tried to get some freshness into the squad, there’s a bit of wear and tear, to be honest.
Veteran fly-half James O’Connor has cut short a holiday in Morocco and will wear the Wallabies No.10 jersey in Sunday’s (AEDT) clash with Ireland in Dublin
Carter Gordon’s quadriceps issue also forced the hand of coach Joe Schmidt, with O’Connor to start ahead of Tane Edmed
‘James was away on holiday in Morocco, so he’s a little bit fresher and we’re hoping that gives us a bit of a bounce into the game.’
Schmidt also stressed that depth is key as the Wallabies build towards the World Cup on home soil in 2027.
‘The boys are getting better,’ he said.
It comes as Wallabies cult hero Matt Dunning urged Australia to be aggressive in Dublin.
The Wallabies are trying to avoid becoming the first Australian touring side to drop four straight Tests in Europe since 1958.
‘All I know is I watched the England game (last weekend) and I wanted to jump out and give Henry Pollock one, at the end that game when he came on,’ Dunning said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
‘I want to see more aggression… it’s not a fight, its just saying we’re not going to take a backward step.
‘It is also saying to everyone…. we are going to play physical and be confrontational.’
Further motivation come kick-off is the fact the Wallabies are desperate to avoid becoming the first touring Australian team to lose four Test matches in a row in Europe since 1958.
Kick-off is 7:10am AEDT on Sunday, November 16, with live coverage on Stan Sport.
AUSTRALIA (15-1): Max Jorgensen, Filipo Daugunu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, James O’Connor, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell
Reserves: Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Zane Nonggorr, Nick Frost, Carlo Tizzano, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway
