James O’Connor is a changed man and will take on a leadership role for the Wallabies at the World Cup

For World Cup debutants like teenage winger-centre Jordan Petaia it’s all new. But James O’Connor is also excited as the matured playmaker prepares for another Rugby World Cup.

James O'Connor poses for a photograph at the announcement of the 2019 Rugby World Cup team in Sydney. Pic: AAP

When Wallabies great Tim Horan phoned James O’Connor to tell him he was in the Rugby World Cup squad, he got exactly the response he wanted from a changed man.

O’Connor’s remarkable return from the wilderness for three Tests is not “job done” but just the start of where he wants to help take the Wallabies over the next 10 weeks.

“The first things I picked up from James were the genuine excitement and his mature outlook,” Horan said.

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James O'Connor AAP

“He said it felt like years and years since his first World Cup (2011) and that he now had to be a leader.”

Just as coach Michael Cheika orchestrated in 2015, revered past Wallabies rang each of the 31 players with news they had been selected in the World Cup squad for Japan.

It’s a wonderful tradition but two-time Cup-winner Horan just couldn’t pull a prank on O’Connor or his other phone target Samu Kerevi like George Gregan did four years ago.

A nervous Will Genia had picked up the phone on selection eve in 2015 to hear a guy calling about a default on his credit card.

“Gotcha” from Gregan came soon after.

Of this 31-man squad, 18 will be playing in their first World Cup which puts O’Connor among the 13 who can pass on some wisdom from past experiences.

O’Connor’s comeback efforts, most notably his smart one-handed pass for the Reece Hodge try in Perth, give him the frontrunning to start beside Kerevi in the centres at the World Cup.

“Right now, I’d say we have two very good individuals playing in the centres rather than a partnership so that’s a work in progress,” Horan said.

Horan was the first to trumpet the out-of-the-box ability of teenage winger-centre Jordan Petaia last year and he expects him to be far more than player No.31.

“He’ll certainly threaten for a spot in the 23-man matchday squad as the World Cup goes on,” Horan said.

Petaia, 19, is certain to be blooded in the Cup tune-up Test against Samoa in Sydney on September 7 after a hamstring niggle cost him a debut against Italy late last year.

“That killed me (but) if I get an opportunity now I’ll probably just do what I know and back myself,” Petaia said.

“I think everyone dreams of playing at a World Cup or even professional-level footy so I set those goals aside quietly and chipped away at it.”

Former Wallaby Matt Giteau broke the selection news to the one uncapped member of the squad.

“That was pretty cool and I was pretty stoked after the year I’ve had doing rehab (on a foot ligament injury),” Petaia said.

Cheika said that being “unpredictable” was one trait he wanted the Wallabies to bring to the World Cup. Someone as new as Petaia with his footwork and deception is just that.

“I’d say we’ll be a little bit unpredictable in Japan, that’s a bit of our theme for a World Cup where every game is a grand final,” Cheika said.