2025 Bledisloe Cup Series

[Red Runner]

It’s being reported he’ll be in the squad and returning home. No Donaldson. JOC (James O'Connor), Tane and Lynagh (sorry Yoda).

 

[Slim 293]

Just watched Inside Line on Stan. Michael Hooper calling for Tane Edmed to start against the All Blacks! No wonder he never won a Bledisloe Cup!..... surely Joe won't do that. JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) is free to play, as his Leicester Club won't stand in his way. We have a semi realistic chance to beat the All Blacks.... surely you would include James? Find out tomorrow I guess. Otherwise you would question Joe's sanity.

What was Hooper’s record as selector/coach of the Wallabies?

 

[TSR]

I feel like the journalists are making good mileage out of this, but there was at least one quote in the last couple of days from O’Connor which indicated this was on the cards and O’Connor, The Wallabies & Leicester had all reached agreement.

Journalists are paid to generate clicks though.

 

[Slim 293]

It’s understood Ben Donaldson, who is now fully fit after suffering a leg injury ahead of the Rugby Championship opener in South Africa, is set to miss selection with Tane Edmed and Tom Lynagh to be retained in the squad.

Ooooooof…

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/09/...don-as-schmidt-goes-all-in-for-bledisloe-cup/

 

[Major Tom]

I feel like the journalists are making good mileage out of this, but there was at least one quote in the last couple of days from O’Connor which indicated this was on the cards and O’Connor, The Wallabies & Leicester had all reached agreement.

Journalists are paid to generate clicks though.

I guess the confusing thing is why you would fly him halfway around the world only to fly him back straight away. Dumb.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I feel like the journalists are making good mileage out of this, but there was at least one quote in the last couple of days from O’Connor which indicated this was on the cards and O’Connor, The Wallabies & Leicester had all reached agreement.

Journalists are paid to generate clicks though.

I think it pretty much depended on who you were reading. The English press were saying that Leicester were hopeful he'd play in the premiership, and the Aussie press were saying they were hopeful he's play in the Bled.

However, Tigers’ new head coach Geoff Parling is hoping to leverage his close bond with Joe Schmidt to secure an early release, allowing the 35-year-old to start the PREM season. Leicester open up with a game against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Sunday, 28 September.

Parling was formerly Schmidt’s assistant before he left for Leicester after the Lions series.

“We had a conversation two days ago, but conversations about these things are always ongoing because it depends on the player’s availability,” said Parling.

“I’m hopeful of getting him. We want to get him here soon, but I’m sure Joe would like to keep him as well. I have a really good relationship with Joe. We’ll keep talking.

 

[Strewthcobber]

I guess the confusing thing is why you would fly him halfway around the world only to fly him back straight away. Dumb.

Wasn't he flying over for his contractual check-in and medical with Leicester?

 

[Slim 293]

Wasn't he flying over for his contractual check-in and medical with Leicester?

Yes, and this would have been on the cards for some time along with the whole process of having to relocate his family over there.

 

[Dctarget]

I don't really care about building for RWC27 when we have a Bledisloe we can win right now. Get JO'C to start, he's a level above Lynagh and Edmed. Pay for 1st class premium ++ for Skelton and have him practicing lineouts in the galley on the flight home, I don't care.

 

[Major Tom]

Wasn't he flying over for his contractual check-in and medical with Leicester?

Jeez what an expensive process when you could just do it 3 weeks later. I suppose their season starts and they want to know what he's body is up to and he's 35. But he could get injured next week or the week later and have to do a medical anyways.

 

[Slim 293]

Jeez what an expensive process when you could just do it 3 weeks later. I suppose their season starts and they want to know what he's body is up to and he's 35. But he could get injured next week or the week later and have to do a medical anyways.

I would assume Leicester are not paying for his return flights to Auckland and then back from Perth…

They had probably also hoped he was staying after he arrived, and as I mentioned earlier JOC (James O'Connor) had probably also made arrangements for relocating his family/pets.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Jeez what an expensive process when you could just do it 3 weeks later. I suppose their season starts and they want to know what he's body is up to and he's 35. But he could get injured next week or the week later and have to do a medical anyways.

Yeah - Australia is paying for the flight there here and back once he's checked-in, Australia is also paying for insurance and expenses if he gets injured while playing for the Wallabies from here on in, which is why Leicester want to get him checked-in and passed medically now, so RA is on the hook if he gets hurt over the next two weeks.

 

[Major Tom]

Yeah - Australia is paying for the flight there and back once he's checked-in, Australia is also paying for insurance and expenses if he gets injured while playing for the Wallabies from here on in, which is why Leicester want to get him checked-in and passed medically now, so RA is on the hook if he gets hurt over the next two weeks.

I get that Leicester is protecting themselves, but they absolutely should be paying for the flights. That's ridiculous that RA would agree to pay for their due diligence. If JOC (James O'Connor) did his ACL playing in the Bled than it's perfectly reasonable for RA to pay for his recovery I'm not disputing this.

 

[TSR]

I guess the confusing thing is why you would fly him halfway around the world only to fly him back straight away. Dumb.

Because Leicester require him too. I’m not sure why it is critical for them, and it’s seems needless to me, but given the size and professionalism of most of these clubs I assume they have their reasons.

 

[Slim 293]

I get that Leicester is protecting themselves, but they absolutely should be paying for the flights. That's ridiculous that RA would agree to pay for their due diligence. If JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) did his ACL playing in the Bled than it's perfectly reasonable for RA to pay for his recovery I'm not disputing this.

Sorry, why would Leicester be paying for his flights to leave England?

 

[Major Tom]

Sorry, why would Leicester be paying for his flights to leave England?

Why would RA pay for him to fly to England?
It's a requirement of his workplace to do the medical checkup. If they want him to do it, then they should be paying (like any workplace would be expected to do).
Bloody hell are they gonna bill RA for the medical too?

 

[Slim 293]

Why would RA pay for him to fly to England?
It's a requirement of his workplace to do the medical checkup. If they want him to do it, then they should be paying (like any workplace would be expected to do).
Bloody hell are they gonna bill RA for the medical too?

Er, I'm not sure if you're following along...

I'm sure Leicester are paying for him to fly to England, but RA will be paying for his return flights back here.

 

[Major Tom]

Er, I'm not sure if you're following along...

I'm sure Leicester are paying for him to fly to England, but RA will be paying for his return flights back here.

I'm going off what strewth said a few posts up.
In saying that I'm still not sure why RA even has to pay for JOC (James O'Connor)'s flight home for a medical that they didn't require him to do?

 

[Strewthcobber]

I'm going off what strewth said a few posts up.
In saying that I'm still not sure why RA even has to pay for JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor)'s flight home for a medical that they didn't require him to do?

My wording was slightly confusing. Leicester will pay for the flight to England, he will check in, and then Australia will pay for the flight here and back to get him back for the Bled

 

[TSR]

I think it pretty much depended on who you were reading. The English press were saying that Leicester were hopeful he'd play in the premiership, and the Aussie press were saying they were hopeful he's play in the Bled.

I think that’s my point - the press write the story to get maximum clicks and/or to appeal to their audience.

They are necessarily reporting, or even privy to, what is actually happening. But O’Connor was quoted as saying he was happy to make a quick turn around to play Bledisloe and I’m pretty sure that quote was at least 3-4 days ago. I thought I also recall Schmidt saying last week he was looking into options to have O’Connor involved. I don’t think these apparent last minute changes of mind being reported necessarily reflect what’s actually being planned out.