Australia turn to O'Connor in search of Ireland inspiration / Photo: Phill Magakoe - AFP
RBGPF
-0.0500
The Prague Post - Australia turn to O'Connor in search of Ireland inspiration
EUR
-
AED 4.277162
AFN 77.177029
ALL 96.98154
AMD 445.220859
ANG 2.08478
AOA 1067.980321
ARS 1639.807507
AUD 1.778887
AWG 2.099274
AZN 1.97946
BAM 1.961494
BBD 2.344497
BDT 142.245385
BGN 1.955668
BHD 0.439114
BIF 3435.506113
BMD 1.164646
BND 1.514656
BOB 8.072435
BRL 6.159584
BSD 1.164024
BTN 103.204593
BWP 16.52397
BYN 3.971282
BYR 22827.061603
BZD 2.341096
CAD 1.633352
CDF 2489.432865
CHF 0.921934
CLF 0.027584
CLP 1082.13046
CNY 8.283835
CNH 8.262111
COP 4339.750512
CRC 584.720051
CUC 1.164646
CUP 30.863119
CVE 110.586034
CZK 24.168266
DJF 206.98069
DKK 7.468048
DOP 74.709771
DZD 151.548719
EGP 54.963953
ERN 17.46969
ETB 178.793442
FJD 2.64823
FKP 0.887018
GBP 0.881666
GEL 3.143329
GGP 0.887018
GHS 12.781104
GIP 0.887018
GMD 85.606997
GNF 10104.50719
GTQ 8.923249
GYD 243.526966
HKD 9.050406
HNL 30.620074
HRK 7.53072
HTG 152.378246
HUF 383.815491
IDR 19481.44127
ILS 3.753712
IMP 0.887018
INR 103.388363
IQD 1524.986
IRR 49046.156634
ISK 147.012932
JEP 0.887018
JMD 186.782234
JOD 0.825696
JPY 179.781163
KES 150.490387
KGS 101.848063
KHR 4665.544206
KMF 497.890837
KPW 1048.18459
KRW 1707.429629
KWD 0.357022
KYD 0.970016
KZT 608.710624
LAK 25266.348923
LBP 104237.704993
LKR 355.856812
LRD 212.43671
LSL 19.792623
LTL 3.438897
LVL 0.704482
LYD 6.351438
MAD 10.786814
MDL 19.590873
MGA 5210.12514
MKD 61.709143
MMK 2445.260952
MNT 4168.357151
MOP 9.31775
MRU 46.5722
MUR 53.335629
MVR 17.941433
MWK 2018.058481
MXN 21.295366
MYR 4.808857
MZN 74.490689
NAD 19.791856
NGN 1678.6737
NIO 42.836009
NOK 11.656361
NPR 165.127751
NZD 2.05436
OMR 0.447812
PAB 1.163979
PEN 3.921536
PGK 4.918278
PHP 68.515783
PKR 328.963902
PLN 4.2279
PYG 8199.804263
QAR 4.243318
RON 5.085309
RSD 117.168018
RUB 93.986163
RWF 1692.513414
SAR 4.367366
SBD 9.593622
SCR 17.605509
SDG 699.369135
SEK 10.927759
SGD 1.513335
SHP 0.873786
SLE 27.223578
SLL 24422.042133
SOS 664.027691
SRD 44.942487
STD 24105.820792
STN 24.572283
SVC 10.185569
SYP 12877.399041
SZL 19.78821
THB 37.61325
TJS 10.778791
TMT 4.076261
TND 3.428653
TOP 2.804188
TRY 49.209013
TTD 7.870151
TWD 36.211986
TZS 2841.736422
UAH 48.953915
UGX 4260.367968
USD 1.164646
UYU 46.284365
UZS 13937.460841
VES 271.67179
VND 30665.129184
VUV 142.305733
WST 3.276067
XAF 657.866806
XAG 0.021878
XAU 0.000277
XCD 3.147514
XCG 2.097972
XDR 0.820812
XOF 657.866806
XPF 119.331742
YER 277.772405
ZAR 19.805982
ZMK 10483.209073
ZMW 26.102777
ZWL 375.015537
- Zelensky sanctions associate as fraud scandal rocks Ukraine
- Starbucks baristas launch strike on chain's 'Red Cup Day'
- Fiji unchanged for France Autumn Nations Series trip
- All Blacks boss Robertson at ease with 'respectful' England challenge to haka
- Stocks on the slide despite end of US shutdown
- Church bells ring as France marks decade since Paris attacks
- France scrum-half Serin commits for two more seasons to Toulon
- Starlink, utilised by Myanmar scam centres, sees usage fall nationwide
- YouTube superstar MrBeast opens pop-up park in Saudi Arabia
- 'Black Klimt' steps out of shadows and into political tug-of-war
Australia turn to O'Connor in search of Ireland inspiration
James O'Connor has been summoned to revive Australia's faltering Autumn Nations Series campaign, with the veteran fly-half given the task of steering the Wallabies to a much-needed win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Australia have lost five of their last six Tests, including defeats by England and Italy in their two most recent encounters.
But Wallaby boss Joe Schmidt, up against former side Ireland for the final time as Australia coach, now hopes the 35-year-old O'Connor, who orchestrated a superb win over world champions South Africa at Ellis Park in August, can turn the tide at Lansdowne Road.
O'Connor and Len Ikitau, recalled at centre, both missed the 25-7 loss to England at Twickenham on November 1 and the 26-19 defeat by Italy in Udine last weekend.
The pair were absent from the Twickenham clash as their English clubs were not obliged to release them for a match taking place outside World Rugby's designated international window.
O'Connor, one of five fly-halves selected by Australia this year, replaces Carter Gordon, who suffered quad tightness against Italy.
Tane Edmed, replaced by Gordon after his own poor performance against England, is again on the bench.
Ikitau, meanwhile, resumes his centre partnership with Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii for the 12th time in the Wallabies' last 16 Tests.
Schmidt, looking to rejuvenate the Wallabies' attack as they seek to nail down a top-six ranking spot which in the upcoming draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, has selected 21-year-old Max Jorgensen at full-back and wing Filipo Daugunu to join Harry Potter in the back three.
Experienced prop Allan Alaalatoa returns to the starting 15, joining hooker Matt Faessler and Angus Bell in the front row.
In a further change to the pack, Tom Hooper moves to lock with Rob Valetini starting at blindside flanker in a back row featuring Fraser McReight and skipper Harry Wilson.
"It's been a tough schedule but we've tried to embrace that this week and tried to freshen up at the same time," said Schmidt after announcing his side on Thursday.
"It's another opportunity this Saturday to really challenge ourselves against one of the top teams in the world."
Australia (15-1)
Max Jorgensen; Filipo Daugunu Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; James O'Connor, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Tom Hooper, Jeremy Williams; Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Zane Nonggorr, Nick Frost, Carlo Tizzano, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
A.Novak--TPP
