The Wallabies have been encouraged to include an experienced playmaker, such as James O’Connor, in their squad for the upcoming British and Irish Lions Test series.
Fly-half Noah Lolesio has been ruled out of the series after having neck surgery, forcing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt back to the drawing board ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on July 19.
Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh are the front-runners to start at fly-half against the Lions.
Matt Giteau, who played 103 Tests for the Wallabies between 2002 and 2016, said the Wallabies would benefit from including O’Connor, Kurtley Beale or Bernard Foley in their squad when it is named on Friday.
Giteau said the Wallabies could follow the example of the Lions, who flew in England veteran Owen Farrell as injury cover last week.
Farrell has played over 100 Tests for England and is now on his fourth Lions tour.
There had already been calls for O’Connor to be included in the first Wallabies squad of the season, announced last month.
He had impressed off the reserves bench for the Christchurch-based Crusaders in their march to the Super Rugby Pacific title.
O’Connor has played 64 internationals for the Wallabies and started at fly-half in all three Tests against the Lions in the 2013 series.
Giteau said either O’Connor, Beale or Foley would add a massive dose of experience if at least one of them were added to the Wallabies’ wider squad.
“They’ve seen so many different defence pictures in their time that they can help these young 10s if they are faced with a certain situation in those games, they can prepare them,” Giteau said.
“You look at Owen Farrell’s inclusion. What he’s bringing is leadership and experience. He’s the only one in that group that’s won a Lions series.
“James and Kurtley were part of the previous tour 12 years ago, and Bernard has got big-game experience as well, so these guys have been there and done that.
“To not include any of them this second time around, I think would be silly when they’ve got so much that they can add and help, not only young 10s, but just the whole squad in general.”
Ben Donaldson is a front-runner to replace Noah Lolesio for the opening Lions Test. (Getty Images: Janelle St Pierre)
Giteau said he was confident Donaldson could step up to start at fly-half against the Lions.
He was impressed by Donaldson’s composure during his 19 minutes on the field when he replaced Lolesio in the Wallabies’ scratchy 21-18 win over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday.
“With Noah unavailable, Ben Donaldson looks like first-choice 10 to me,” Giteau said.
“His obvious ability to carry … keeps the defence guessing and he’s got a really good kicking game.
“When he came on for that limited time against Fiji, the Wallabies were up against the flow of the game, heavily, and he was able to get them back on track.”
The Lions play the fourth match of their Australian tour against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday evening.
AAP/ABC
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