Wallabies players want O’Connor for the Bledisloe Cup. He has a flight booked to England

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Wallabies players have thrown their support behind James O’Connor having a longer-term role in the side as a late-game closer, starting with the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series.

But despite Joe Schmidt conceding he otherwise has “three very inexperienced tens” in Tom Lynagh, Tane Edmed and Ben Donaldson, there is still major doubt about whether O’Connor will stay and play against the All Blacks after the coach informed the veteran last week he wasn’t needed.

After a wobbly starting debut for Edmed, O’Connor turned in another influential performance coming off the bench for the Wallabies in Sydney, helping the side rally to within striking distance of a second straight victory at the death over the Pumas.

It wasn’t enough to get a win but two losing bonus points, and the Boks’ win over New Zealand, saw the Wallabies rise to the top of the Rugby Championship ladder with two games against the All Blacks to come.

O’Connor had been due to fly out to England to join his new club, the Leicester Tigers, after the Lions series, but injuries to Lynagh and Donaldson saw him delay his departure and start two Tests on a successful tour of South Africa.

Amid negotiations with Schmidt, O’Connor and former Wallabies assistant and new Leicester coach Geoff Parling, the playmaker stayed with the Wallabies for the Pumas’ games and said last week on The Good, the Bad and the Rugby podcast he was “definitely keen to stay” for the two Bledisloe Cup games, starting on September 27 in Auckland.

James O’Connor of the Wallabies looks to pass the ball in Sydney.

But after Donaldson returned from an abductor injury to Wallabies training last week, informed sources say Schmidt told O’Connor he wouldn’t be needed for the Bledisloe series and was free to join Leicester. O’Connor is due to fly out on Monday.

It is a surprising call from Schmidt, given consistent injury issues around the No.10 stocks and particularly given Lynagh, Donaldson and Edmed have just nine Test starts between them at five-eighth. Noah Lolesio was Schmidt’s chosen playmaker last year but is sidelined with a serious neck injury.

Following a tough afternoon for Edmed at Allianz Stadium, Schmidt said the trio needed to build experience. But, he also appeared to have had a potential change of heart on the need to keep O’Connor on as a safety net and mentor, and said he would talk with him about future plans.

“He was great value again today, wasn’t he? We don’t have any experience at 10. We’ve got three very inexperienced tens, and they are part of that hub of your team,” Schmidt said.

“But how do you get experience? That’s part of the short-term focus/long-term vision, and we try to balance it by having maybe some inexperience, but having some experience to bring off the bench and to help players during the week, just to see the right moment to maybe knock a kick or make a pass or set a particular play up. So that’s a discussion point.

“I will definitely be having a chat to James this evening or tomorrow morning because we have to make a decision pretty much straight away.”

There was no updated information on O’Connor’s status from the Wallabies on Sunday. Sources with knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said O’Connor is still set to depart on Monday.

Donaldson posted an apparent farewell to O’Connor on his Instagram page post-game on Saturday night: “Been a pleasure brother. Appreciate it all.”

But numerous Wallabies players have made it clear they’re keen for O’Connor to stay involved with the Wallabies squad. Speaking after the Pumas’ clash, halfback Tate McDermott joined Len Ikitau in calling for O’Connor to have a longer-term presence.

Ikitau said last week O’Connor had “been awesome for us” and was keen for him to play in the Bledisloe Cup series.

“Lenny referred to when Quade (Cooper) came in (in 2021) and just what that did for guys like Noah (Lolesio) and guys underneath. Ben Donaldson was there as well,” McDermott said. “I think “Rabs” had a similar effect. I think there’s definitely a place for him long term, 100 per cent.”

McDermott said O’Connor’s late-game attacking direction, honed in a similar closer role for the championship-winning Crusaders this year, had been important in Sydney.

“He’s obviously spent 60 minutes looking at (chinks) in the armour and that’s what he’s out there to do,” McDermott said.

“James sees the game very positively. He wants to exploit the weakness. He wants to exploit tired defenders. I think that’s his biggest (strength). He backs himself, and that confidence that he brings, brings everyone with him as well.”