Nic White forged the path, now James O’Connor must hit the ground running

When James O’Connor runs out for the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday night he can thanks fellow comeback kid Nic White for paving the way.

The Qantas Wallabies train at Wests Bulldogs Rugby Union Club, Brisbane. James O'Connor. Photo: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley

• Wasteful Wallabies condemn Cheika to horror record
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Halfback Nic White’s rousing return from the wilderness to the Wallabies is the certain pointer that enigma James O’Connor will make his own Test comeback at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

White was perfectly on the pace of his first Test in four years in Johannesburg last weekend to show the leap from English club rugby can be as smooth as from Super Rugby.

The sharpness of his passing, often vocal decision-making, tactical kicking and fitness for 65 minutes has quickly stamped him as one of the top two halfbacks for the World Cup beside Will Genia who will play on Saturday.

Nic White provided crisp clearances and assured tactical kicking on his return to the national team. Picture: Christiaan Kotze/AFP

It did come off the back of White’s month in Wallabies’ camps to get up to speed with patterns of play and fitness which is the volume that O’Connor will approach with this training week in Brisbane.

A return via the bench against Argentina shapes as the ideal trial to judge if O’Connor can offer some of the same sparkle that Kurtley Beale did with sharp runs and a try-making pass in his late cameo in the 35-17 loss to South Africa.

O’Connor too is coming straight off a strong English season with Sale although it is six years since he played in a gold jersey.

The weary Wallabies flew into Brisbane on Monday night with front-row pair James Slipper and Jordan Uelese both having ticked the first stage of their return-to-play protocols after head knocks.

Prop Scott Sio (adductor) and flyhalf Christian Lealiifano (shoulder) rejoined the squad at Brisbane Airport and are likely to be fit for selection against Argentina while new dad, winger Marika Koroibete, is now available.

James O'Connor (R) is expected to make his return to the Wallabies against Argentina in Brisbane. Picture: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley

On utility O’Connor, Cheika was upbeat.

“He’s trained and reintegrated really well and he wouldn’t be with us if we didn’t want to give him a chance at some stage,” Cheika said.

“It’s a question of when and also it’s the first time I’ve ever coached him so I’m still discovering what he can bring.”

White, 29, showed the value of a mature figure in Test rugby. He found his passing targets well even with the Springboks rushing in defence, kicked sparingly but superbly and chopped down big centre Jesse Kriel with a desperate tackle.

“It’s good individually to get back and to wear the jersey but there’s a greater goal we are after and building towards,” White said.

“Even though it may have been a little bit clunky, we’re not a million miles away with good signs on different things we are trying and when we were patient with the ball.

“Certainly, it’s not panic stations. It’s what Test rugby is where we just need to take those moments we create.”

It’s backed up by the numbers from the opening weekend of The Rugby Championship.

The Wallabies made far too little of more clean breaks (13) than South Africa (10) or the All Blacks (11), the most efficient lineout (91 per cent) with throws to five jumpers and an improved tackle completion rate (88 per cent).

White played enough of the Argentinians in English rugby to know the major threat they pose.

“We are going to have our hands full,” he said. “They’re very athletic, muscly guys and they have players whose footwork you think you can read and are very hard to tackle.”

Winger Dane Haylett-Petty’s knock-on at the tryline cost the Wallabies what would have been their only lead of the match in Johannesburg. “We’re pretty good at parking those things pretty quickly and it’s about moving on,” White said.

* A $10 ticket deal for school age kids to watch the Nudgee College-Brisbane State High curtain-raiser is a winner while the Wallabies will host a fan barbecue from 4pm Tuesday at the Northern Plaza of Suncorp Stadium.