Wallabies legend David Campese has hit out at Joe Schmidt after reports suggested that James O’Connor would be starting against the Springboks.
It is being claimed in Australia that the 35-year-old will not only make his first Test appearance since 2022 but also do it as part of the run-on side.
O’Connor has been out in the cold over the past few years but an impressive season for the Crusaders, allied by an injury to Noah Lolesio, brought him back into contention.
Injuries open the door
Despite making the wider training squad, the playmaker did not feature in the British and Irish Lions series, with Tom Lynagh getting the nod to start and Ben Donaldson in reserve on the bench.
Lynagh’s injury has well and truly opened the door, however, and it appears as though he will start the Rugby Championship clash with the Springboks when the Wallabies team is announced on Thursday.
That is much to the frustration of Campese, who screenshotted the story’s headline on social media and slammed Schmidt’s call.
“I can see why Joe Schmidt has never won a RWC. He has no idea about rugby. Clueless. This shows us why,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Campese is pleased that O’Connor is finally getting his chance this year and insists that the experienced fly-half should have been involved in the Lions series instead of Lynagh.
“Very happy for James who should have been on the bench for the Lions. Ben at 10,” he added.
O’Connor’s best work this season has come from the bench, but Schmidt has taken the interesting decision to start him against South Africa in what will be his final year as Wallabies head coach.
The New Zealander will hand over to Les Kiss midway through 2026 but Campese is not confident things will improve, adding: “Under Kiss it is not going to look any better.”
Australia’s legendary wing was regularly unimpressed by Schmidt’s work in 2024, particularly taking umbrage over the 59-year-old’s background.
Campese’s contrasting views on Schmidt
“I don’t believe we should have a Kiwi coach,” he said in October last year.
“Joe Schmidt hasn’t won anything. Yes, he might have won a Six Nations (with Ireland), but the World Cup is the ultimate for any sports player or coach, and he hasn’t won anything.
“We always seem to get a coach that has never won anything. We always seem to get the second-best Kiwi coach, never the first-best.
“Joe Schmidt has got no idea about our culture or history. We’re mauling the ball from 22 metres out. We don’t do that. That’s not Australian rugby.
“We are used to counterattack and attack from anywhere. We can’t even do that. It’s very sad that we have to go through this again with another Kiwi coach.”
After an improved November campaign, Campese was somewhat forced to eat humble pie, however, admitting: “He is proving me wrong again. It didn’t start well but the players have responded well to the coach. He seems to be doing a great job.”
But after going down 2-1 to the Lions recently and Schmidt’s big selection call for the Springboks clash this weekend, the Wallabies legend has lashed out again.
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