O’Connor misses Wallabies squad as Schmidt picks youth

Darren Walton | June 19, 2025

Joe Schmidt says he has opted for momentum over experience after overlooking veteran playmaker James O’Connor for the Wallabies squad to face Fiji in three weeks.

O’Connor’s dream of a recall for Australia’s hosting of the British and Irish Lions appears over after the 34-year-old was not named in a 36-strong squad to assemble on Sunday in Sydney for the Wallabies’ season-opening international in Newcastle on July 6.

The squad included 20 forwards and 16 backs, with Western Force back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny and ACT Brumbies winger Corey Toole the only two uncapped players selected.

But there was no room for O’Connor despite Schmidt last month admitting the Wallabies could use his experience following his impressive run of form in helping the Crusaders reach Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific final against the Chiefs.

Schmidt has instead pinned his faith in youth, with Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh the three No.10 options selected, saying he wanted continuity following the Wallabies’ successful spring tour of the UK last November.

Japan-based stalwarts Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete plus France-based Pete Samu were all left out. 

“Selection is always tight and there’ll be players who are excited and those that are disappointed,” Schmidt said.

“(The spring tour) was an anchoring point for us. We’d invested all that time and those guys were investing time back, so that’s definitely part of it.

“I don’t know globally, but I felt like we were making progress with the individuals building their game and and being more confident and then the collective becoming more competitive.

“So we wanted continuity there, albeit we haven’t seen them since early January.”

O’Connor’s omission leaves evergreen prop James Slipper, Australia’s most-capped player, as the sole survivor from the Wallabies squad that lost the 2013 series 2-1 to the Lions.

In-form Brumbies No.9 Ryan Lonergan and injured Queensland forwards Seru Uru and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto are other noteable absentees but could yet force their way into a larger squad of up to 40 players to be named for the Lions series on July 11.

Giant lock Will Skelton, Eddie Jones’ 2023 Rugby World Cup captain, is the only overseas based-player in the squad.

Schmidt did not reveal his skipper at Thursday’s press conference at Stanmore Public School, intriguingly where NSW Waratahs captain Jake Gordon started his education.

While Gordon insisted he had “heard nothing” about potentially leading the side against the Lions, Schmidt confirmed the halfback was under consideration along with incumbent captain Harry Wilson and Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa.

“Jake, he’s one of the five guys who we rely on through the Super period as a leader. He’s one of those guys who we’ll talk to,” the coach said.

“It will be about getting the squad together first and foremost, checking full fitness.

“Some of the guys who led for us last year have got niggles or are coming back from injury and are only just back on deck.

“And do we want them to have them shoulder the responsibility of leadership or just focus on their own game and get as much of what they can deliver right in what they’re doing?

“Or do we want them to lead the team and slightly dilute their own focus on their own game?

“That’s the balance that we’ll even talk to them about, to be honest, because it’s a small group of guys who’ve led the team in the past and we’ll talk to them about how best we take that forward over the next four Test matches.”

Force stars de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White have been picked but will remain on the west coast to prepare for Saturday week’s Force clash with the Lions in Perth.

Wallabies squad:

Forwards – Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.

Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright.