British and Irish Lions: James O’Connor left out of Wallabies squad for Fiji Test | Rugby Union News
James O’Connor should fail to face the British and Irish lions after being excluded from the Australian team to play the Fiji.
The 34-year-old half-flies had been returned to return to Joe Schmidt’s team for the Lions Trest Lions series, which begins on July 19 in Brisbane, live Sky Sports.
Schmidt preferred Ben Donaldson, Noah Golesio and Tom Lynagh as options at No. 10 for the warm -up test against Fiji on July 6.
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The head coach of the British and Irish lions, Andy Farrell and Captain Maro Itoje, talk about the team’s desire to play before their match with Argentina for the 1888 Cup Friday – live on Sky Sports
The Western Force Back-Row striker, Nick, the Crespigny champion and the Brumbies winger, Corey Tole, are the only two non-ceiling players of the 36 men team.
David Porecki returns for the first time since the Captain of the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup, while another former skipper, Will Skelton de La Rochelle, is the only player abroad included.
Veteran James O’Connor was overlooked by Australia
Schmidt said: “The selection is always tight and there will be excited players and those who are disappointed.
“As trainers, there have been a lot of healthy and robust discussions and we think we have selected a group that will work hard and connect well as a team.
“There is a certain continuity of last year, plus a few new players or back, who forced their way in the mixture thanks to strong performance in the Super Rugby Pacific.
“The immediate objective of this team is the Fiji, and we will have to hit the ground in progress not having been together since early January.”
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Sky Sports News journalist Eleanor Roper returns to history and traditions that have made British and Irish lions one of the most emblematic teams in world sport.
Australian team
Advances: Allan Alaalato, Angus Bell, Nick Champion of Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McREight, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Carry Wilson Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jérémy Williams, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jérémy Williams, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jérémy Williams.
Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lyynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Too, Nic White, Wright.
The British and Irish team of Lions Play Argentina on Friday – live on Sky Sports
British and Irish lions: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan Van der Merwe, 10 end Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan Dickie, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Maro Itoje (C), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Ben Earl.
Substitutes: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Elliot Daly, 23 Mack Hansen.
Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya (C), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera, July 7 Martin Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo.
Substitutes: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquin Moro, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero.
Visit of the British and Irish Lions in Australia on Sky Sports
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Look at the tour of the British and Irish Lions in Australia by living exclusively on Sky Sports this summer.
Sky Sports will exclusively show the tour of the British and Irish lions in 2025 in Australia, with the three tests against the Wallabies and six warm -up matches to show exclusively live.
