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Why Horan backs O’Connor selection against World Champs
Nicholas Quinlan • August 15th, 2025 10:50 am
Wallabies legend Tim Horan has backed coach Joe Schmidt in selecting veteran James O’Connor as the starting fly-half against South Africa.
Having been a surprise selection for the Wallabies in their series against the British and Irish Lions, the 35-year-old did not feature in any of the three tests, with Tom Lynagh the starting No.10 for the side.
But after suffering a nasty concussion from Ireland’s Dan Sheenan in their 22-12 win against the Lions in the third Test, Lynagh has been ruled out of Australia’s first match of the Rugby Championship against the reigning world champions.
With an opening at No.10, Schmidt has chosen to give O’Connor his first cap for the national team since 2022 as fellow fly-half Ben Donaldson picked up an injury during training.
Horan, who is one of five Australian players to win two Rugby World Cups as a player, feels that O’Connor has come a long way in his personal and professional development and will provide calmness to the side.
That’s despite criticism from legendary Australian winger David Campese, who called Schmidt ‘clueless’ and ‘has no idea about rugby’ following reports of O’Connor’s selection prior to it being confirmed late on Thursday night.
“It’s an incredible turnaround, it’s James O’Connor 2.0,” he said on SEN’s Mornings with Matt White.
“Because you look back at the last Lions series, and he was playing at the Melbourne Rebels, and what happened at Hungry Jacks with Kurtley Beale.
“And he went away from Australia post that and came back a completely different person. He’s sort of found himself, not just on the field but off the field.
“He’s been great around the environment. From what I’ve spoken to different players in that environment, what he’s done, the calmness that he brings the organisation on the field is pretty important.
“He can, especially in a big game atmosphere in Ellis Park, where there is 70,000 people right on top of you, just control the game a little bit and give players outside like Len Ikitau, Joseph Suaalii a bit more space.
“That’s what they probably missed this Test series (against the Lions).”
Despite the Wallabies losing the series against the Lions, there were plenty of positives for the side to take out, such as winning four of the six halves, alongside having more possession than the Lions in all three tests.
However, as they begin their Rugby Championship campaign, they face an extremely tough start, with their first two matches against South Africa in their home country.
It has been 14 years since the Wallabies last defeated the Springboks in South Africa.
And you would have to go back to 1963 for the last time the Wallabies won against them in Johannesburg, which is where they’ll play this Sunday (AEST).
And you would have to go back to 1963 for the last time the Wallabies won against them in Johannesburg, which is where they’ll play this Sunday (AEST).
But if Australia is to claim its first Rugby Championship since 2015, then Horan believes they need to win at least one match against the Springboks in enemy territory.
“You’ve got two test matches,” he explained.
“One’s in Joburg… and then the next week is in Cape Town.
“You’ve got to win one of those. So, Joburg is a really hard place to play because it is at altitude, and you’re only over there for eight days prior to that.
“To acclimatise in altitude, you’ve got to be over there for at least 15 days. So, the last 15, 20 minutes, you’re just sucking the air in, but there’s no air to suck in, and your lungs are burning.
“But then, Cape Town, we’ve had a pretty good experience in Cape Town over the last 20 or 30 years. So that’s probably the match (to win), as long as (Joburg) hasn’t taken too much out of the squad from that test series against the Lions.”
The Wallabies' first of two matches against the Springboks will kick off at 1:10am on Sunday (AEST), with coverage available on Stan Sport.
