#james-oconnor

#james-oconnor

The South African metronome, his face stuck in a perpetual scowl, thrusts a meaty finger towards the uprights as if he owns them. You're mine, he growls, with the promise that in just a few short seconds an oval ball will be spiralling through them courtesy of his swinging right boot. If there's such a thing as a Test match animal then it is Pollard, the only fly-half present at the final whistle of two victorious World Cup campaigns.

The eleventh-hour inclusion of James O'Connor in Australia's squad for the Test series against the British & Irish Lions comes after a successful Super Rugby season with the Crusaders, even though he last played for the Wallabies in 2022. Schmidt noted that O'Connor has stayed connected with the team, and despite not having played under him yet, he is confident in O'Connor's ability to catch up quickly before the series begins.