Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has given an update on his captaincy choice for their upcoming series against the British & Irish Lions.

He’s mostly reverted back to the team that laboured to a scrappy 21-20 victory against the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney last weekend, with Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne handed the captaincy again with tour skipper Maro Itoje rested.

James O’Connor wasn’t answering his phone calls, and the Wallabies squad for the British & Irish Lions series was to be announced in an hour. As Australia’s coach dialled the number again from the team’s hotel lobby, he received a tap on the shoulder from James Slipper. “The bloke you’re after is outside,” Slipper revealed.

Lynagh Snr was a sensational player in his pomp, winning a Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies in 1991, while his sons are starting out their careers at the highest level, with Tom boasting three caps ahead of the Series while Louis is currently representing Italy.

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Joe Schmidt's preparations for the British & Irish Lions tour appear on shaky ground with the loss of first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio deepening the sense of pessimism surrounding the Wallabies following their lacklustre showing against Fiji.

Joe Schmidt says that it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision to recall James O'Connor to the Wallabies squad after the injury to Noah Lolesio.

With just 20 caps of Test experience between Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh, Joe Schmidt had no other choice but to bring James O'Connor into his Wallabies squad.