Bledisloe Cup beckons O'Connor as refreshed Wallabies name squad

James O’Connor’s introductions at new club Leicester Tigers will have to wait, with the 35-year-old playmaker again recruited by the Wallabies for the final two rounds of the Rugby Championship.

The team will compete for the Bledisloe Cup in two Tests hosted by the cities of Auckland and Perth. The Wallabies must win both Tests to win back the esteemed Cup, which they last held in 2002.

Good news comes in the form of Nick Frost (back) and Len Ikitau (knee), who are both fit and available for selection. Allan Alaalatoa is in line for a return, while fellow veteran Jake Gordon is also back on deck, with Nic White now officially retired from Test rugby.

O’Connor’s inclusion, alongside fellow playmakers Tane Edmed and Tom Lynagh, means there is no room for Ben Donaldson. Donaldson joins Pete Samu and Josh Flook as omissions who will return to their respective clubs ahead of the weekend’s Super Rugby AUS games.

History beckons for veteran prop James Slipper, who sits just one Test shy of 150 Wallabies appearances. Only Wales’ Alun-Wyn Jones and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock have ever achieved the monumental milestone.

“After an intense period, from the British and Irish Lions Series, playing in South Africa and then here in Australia against Los Pumas, it’s been ideal for players to take a breath before heading to Auckland for the fifth match in the Rugby Championship,” said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.

“We know that the Championship has been incredibly competitive and that we will need to be better than we were last time out to have any chance against a fired-up All Blacks side.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

5

Draws

0

Wins

0

Average Points scored

30

20

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

60%

Wallabies squad for Bledisloe Cup (Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club, Super Rugby Pacific club, Test caps)

Forwards (19)

Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 83)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 43)
Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 1)
Nick Champion De Crespigny (#991, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 2)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 32)
Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, ACT Brumbies, 17)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 33)
Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 7)
Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 16)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts, Western Force, 24)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 14)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 35)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick, Queensland Reds, 42)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates, ACT Brumbies, 149)
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 10)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 63)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 56)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 18)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 29)

Backs (15)

Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Bulldogs, Queensland Reds, 13)
Tane Edmed (#990, West Harbour Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 3)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 31)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 46)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 15)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 45)
Ryan Lonergan (uncapped, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 0)
Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland, Queensland Reds, 7)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 49)
James O’Connor (#832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee, Leicester (England), 68)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 32)
Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 5)
Hamish Stewart (#986, Toowoomba Bears, Western Force, 2)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 12)
Corey Toole (#992, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 3)

Charlie Cale
Langi Gleeson
Noah Lolesio
Dylan Pietsch
Tom Wright