Schmidt says O'Connor in contention for Lions series

James O'Connor is in the Wallabies' selection frame and his experience could prove useful in a squad of relatively young flyhalves, head coach Joe Schmidt said on Tuesday.

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O'Connor will turn 35 before the first British and Irish Lions Test in Brisbane in July but the 64-cap Wallaby has been in good form at the Canterbury Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific, catching the attention of the Wallabies' coach.

Schmidt said he had had a “good chat” with O'Connor, who wore the Wallabies’ number IO against the Lions during Australia’s 2-1 defeat in the 2013 series.

“James, he would bring experience back into the group (and) a little bit of versatility in that he’s played 12 in his career as well," the New Zealander told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.