Regretful Wallaby James O’Connor wants another crack at Lions: ‘They are a team of monsters’

The veteran fly-half didn’t understand how big a Lions tour was in 2013 but says he is ready to be a ‘killer’ for Joe Schmidt and the Wallabies.

James O'Connor, who was just 23 when Robbie Deans gave him the No.10 role for the Wallabies’ 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 2013, is training daily in the hope of earning a recall for Australia. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Veteran fly-half James O’Connor has declared he is ready to be a “killer” for the Wallabies if he is given a late call-up for selection against the British & Irish Lions.

In an exclusive interview with The Australian, O’Connor spoke of the ferocity of the Lions, the 34-year-old describing them as a “team of monsters” while publicly declaring his hopes for a “second chance” with the Wallabies.

O’Connor, who was just 23 when Robbie Deans gave him the No.10 role for the Wallabies’ 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 2013, is training daily in the hope of earning a recall for Australia.

“If I get the opportunity again, I will be a killer out there,” O’Connor said. “In saying that as well, I had a little chat with (fly-half) Noah Lolesio and I know those boys are up for the challenge. I just hope they know how big this is – maybe I was just naive at that stage in my life and in my career, but, there is a team of monsters coming for them, so they are going to have to be ready.

“I know if they are ready they can do the job… I wou

Brumbies fly-half Noah Lolesio has the inside running for the Wallabies’ No.10 jersey against the Lions Picture: Getty Images

ld love to be a part of it, too. Let’s see what Joe (Schmidt) does. All I can do is stay fit and stay ready to let him know, I’m here and I want to be part of it and the rest … I will see what the universe has in store.”

Western Force veteran and Wallabies hopeful Tom Robertson recently said he’d give his left testicle to play against the British & Irish Lions. O’Connor shares the sentiment: “Well, I’d give my right nut,” he said.

The Lions are proving to be as fierce a unit as ever, having trounced Australian Super Rugby sides the Western Force and the Queensland Reds in their warm-up games.

O’Connor revealed that several weeks ago, Schmidt gave him the heads up that he would miss selection, before the extended 36-man national squad for Sunday’s Test against Fiji in Newcastle was announced.

Schmidt explained he was opting for younger playmakers Tom Lynagh (Queensland Reds), Lolesio (ACT Brumbies) and Ben Donaldson (Western Force) rather than O’Connor, who recently won a Super Rugby title with the Crusaders. O’Connor said he understood Schmidt’s tact but also maintained he could be an asset for Australia if given an opportunity against the Lions.

James O'Connor scores during the Wallabies’ disastrous loss to the Lions in the series decider of 2013.

“We have had some great conversations (Joe and I), when this first squad was announced, and he just said to me; ‘Look, I’m going to go with the other guys, I feel like for their development and for the way they are playing’,” O’Connor said. “He’s going to back them in and rightly so … they’ve all had good Super Rugby campaigns and in their own right, they’re powerful men too.

“Whether I am playing or not playing, I’d just love to be around them to give them some support too. At the end of the day, I just want us to win, if I am part of it or not, whether I come into camp and be involved in even just helping with game plans, or even just with, I guess I have a story to tell, in terms of I know these guys quite well, I’ve played against a lot of them too, so any way I can help, I will be putting my hand up…”

O’Connor believes an opportunity to play in a Lions tour is “bigger than a World Cup”, and also has faith that the Wallabies squad has the potential to achieve victory.

Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi has been training alongside James O’Connor in a bid to force his way back into Joe Schmidt’s squad Picture: Getty Images

“My message to the whole team is: ‘don’t take this lightly’,” he said. “I possibly did when they came around last time; I wasn’t aware of the history and the culture and just how big a battle this is – this is bigger than a World Cup. This is the hardest team you will ever play.

“They’re the best of the north. They’re warriors. They’re going to be coming for you, so be ready to take it to them. Like, there are no second chances, as I’m finding out.

“We have incredible athletes, we have got some incredible minds. The squad is ready now, they’re of age, where they are hard and ready for battle, so as long as they can get up mentally for it and put everything on the line, like we’re going to have to go out there and people are willing to almost die there to win this one.”

O’Connor has made 64 Test appearances for the Wallabies.

The veteran also said Wallabies coach Schmidt had encouraged him to keep training and to be fit for a recall if he was deemed needed. He has since been training alongside 50-test Wallaby Samu Kerevi, who also missed out on Australian selection, in Brisbane.

“Samu’s a good man to train with, he’s hungry for it,” O’Connor said.

James O'Connor said his stint at the Crusaders was motivated by a possible stint against (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

He described being part of the Crusaders’ recent title-winning success as a “beautiful, magical moment” after a season that showed him he still had more to give. He added that he was looking forward to joining the Leicester Tigers for the 25/26 season.

“Instead of going overseas, I stayed in Super Rugby (for the 2025 season) and I stayed specifically, a part of that was for the Lions, so I could be available,” O’Connor said.

“I’ve been over in the UK before and played, but I didn’t feel like I’ve ever played my best rugby over there, so I thought, that’s an awesome opportunity to play at a great club with a huge history and to be part of that.

“I’m at that sort of last couple of seasons of my career. For me to want to put my body in front of big men, for me to want to go to dark places, I have to be enthused and there has to be a challenge for me to sink my teeth in …

“To go and play that rugby, which excites me, I’m going to have to really get into it. I’m going to get stuck in, and again, that keeps me hungry, young and it keeps me fit.”