Experienced pair Bernard Foley and James O’Connor given chance to push for World Cup selection

Two players Wallabies fans know well have perhaps one final chance to push for Rugby World Cup selection after being picked in an Australia A squad.

Bernard Foley’s hopes of World Cup selection remain alive. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

The Rugby World Cup selection hopes of experienced pair Bernard Foley and James O’Connor remain alive after they were named in Australia A’s squad for Friday week’s clash against Tonga in Nuku’alofa.

O’Connor and Foley, who both played at fly half at different stages for the Wallabies last year and have made 148 Test appearances between them, were left out of Australia’s Rugby Championship squad.

Foley’s omission from Eddie Jones’s squad was particularly surprising after the Japan-based 33-year-old playmaker was part of recent Wallabies camp in Sydney.

Queenslander O’Connor, 32, fell out of selection favour last year with previous Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, but his utility value in the backline gives him a slim hope of a World Cup recall.

Bernard Foley (right) has been named in an Australia A squad to play against Tonga. Picture Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

The 25-man Australia A squad also includes towering former Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who recently returned from England to join the Melbourne Rebels.

Capped 30 times for the Wallabies, 26-year-old Salakaia-Loto also remains in contention to force his way into Jones’s World Cup plans.

“Eddie has selected a group with a huge amount of talent and alongside the rest of the Australia A coaches, I’m looking forward to working closely with them and maximising our time together,” Australia A coach Jason Gilmore said.

“It’s great to build on the foundations of the Australia A program from last year with another hit out against Test-quality international opposition in Tonga.”

Australia A: Lachlan Anderson (Rebels), Jock Campbell (Reds), Josh Canham (Rebels), Pone Fa’amausili (Rebels), Folau Fainga’a (Force), Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Force), Bernard Foley (Kubota Spears), Josh Flook (Reds), Jake Gordon (Waratahs), Ned Hanigan (Waratahs), Tom Lambert (Waratahs), Lachlan Lonergan (Brumbies), Cadeyrn Neville (Brumbies), James O’Connor (Reds), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Rebels), Ollie Sapsford (Brumbies), Blake Schoupp (Brumbies), Lachlan Swinton (Waratahs), Sam Talakai (Rebels), Corey Toole (Brumbies), Seru Uru (Reds), Rhys Van Nek (Brumbies), Joey Walton (Waratahs), Brad Wilkin (Rebels), Harry Wilson (Reds).

Originally published as Experienced pair Bernard Foley and James O’Connor given chance to push for World Cup selection