Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt says he would \u201cnever say never\u201d when it comes to James O\u2019Connor featuring at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, after the veteran impressed on his Test return against South Africa.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Connor, 34, started at fly-half in the opening Rugby Championship<\/a> win over the Springboks in Johannesburg, his first Wallabies appearance in four years.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Asked whether O\u2019Connor could still be in the mix for a home Rugby World Cup<\/a> in two years\u2019 time, Schmidt pointed to the example of Ireland<\/a> great Johnny Sexton<\/a>, who extended his career beyond expectations.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not my decision. We\u2019ve 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 \u2014 until they both disappeared and he decided that he needed to develop himself into our current number 10,\u201d Schmidt said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I would never say never. I had Johnny Sexton<\/a> 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\u2019s no definitive stopping point.<\/p>\n \u201cNick White retired in the third Test against the Lions<\/a> and played pretty well in his comeback game \u2014 albeit only two weeks later.\u201d<\/p>\n