Veteran playmaker James O’Connor has answered Australia ’s fly half SOS ahead of the British and Irish Lions series, with the 35-year-old given a shock Wallabies recall. O’Connor returns to Joe Schmidt ’s squad for the three Tests against the tourists after the hosts lost first-choice No 10 Noah Lolesio to injury in their win over Fiji last week.

James O'Connor has returned to a Wallabies squad almost three years after his last test when the veteran flyhalf was included to face the British and Irish Lions in the first test on July 19 in Brisbane.

James O’Connor has made a sensational return to the Australia squad for the forthcoming Test series against the British and Irish Lions. The veteran 64-cap back, 35, has not played for the Wallabies since 2022 but was included in a revised 36-man squad named by head coach Joe Schmidt on Friday.