Mature O Connor back in the Wallabies frame for Lions series

SYDNEY - James OConnor calmly slotted two late penalties to keep the Canterbury Crusaders in the hunt for another Super Rugby Pacific title at the weekend, bringing himself right back into the reckoning for the British amp; Irish Lions series in the process.

The 34-year-old beat out a strong field to start at flyhalf for the Wallabies in the 2013 series, which Australia lost 2-1, but it looked like his test career was over at the end of 2022.

Joe Schmidt might be taking another look, however, given the way OConnor has flourished as an experienced finisher for the 14-times Super Rugby champions this season.

The Crusaders pack will rightly get the credit for the two scrum penalties that gave them a 25-22 win over the Auckland Blues last Friday but OConnor showed a supremely cool head to convert them in horrible conditions.

I guess you just back his experience, Crusaders coach Rob Penney told reporters in Christchurch.

And you go, youve been here before, big fella and away it went.

OConnor has been there before. In 2010, he scored a late try and slotted a sideline conversion to give the Wallabies a victory over the All Blacks in Hong Kong.

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then, however.

His test career hit the skids when he was sacked by Rugby Australia because of off-field indiscretions in the months after the 2013 Lions series, and he only returned home from a long spell in exile in Europe in 2019.

He resurrected his career with the Queensland Reds, earning 20 more caps to take his tally to 64 before Dave Rennie dumped him in late 2022 after a poor display against Argentina.

After the short-lived chaos of Eddie Jones second reign as coach, 29-cap pivot Noah Lolesio