Johnny Sexton came up in Joe Schmidt's Wallabies presser today

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt says he would “never say never” when it comes to James O’Connor featuring at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, after the veteran impressed on his Test return against South Africa.

O’Connor, 34, started at fly-half in the opening Rugby Championship win over the Springboks in Johannesburg, his first Wallabies appearance in four years.

The playmaker had originally been brought back into the squad to mentor younger options in the No.10 jersey, but injuries and his form has put him back in contention for a run at the position.

Asked whether O’Connor could still be in the mix for a home Rugby World Cup in two years’ time, Schmidt pointed to the example of Ireland great Johnny Sexton, who extended his career beyond expectations.

“It’s not my decision. We’ve got some young guys who are coming through at 10, and part of our plan with James was for him to kind of guide those younger players and help them through their development — until they both disappeared and he decided that he needed to develop himself into our current number 10,” Schmidt said.

“So I would never say never. I had Johnny Sexton with Ireland for a long time and in 2019 I felt like that might be his last World Cup, but he was a hell of a player in 2023. So, you know, there’s no definitive stopping point.

“Nick White retired in the third Test against the Lions and played pretty well in his comeback game — albeit only two weeks later.”

O’Connor’s recall has provided fresh depth for Schmidt at fly-half, with the Wallabies continuing their Rugby Championship campaign against South Africa in Cape Town this weekend.