'I've got a number of equations wrong in my time': James O'Connor summoned from Morocco as Joe Schmidt swings axe

James O'Connor has been summoned from a holiday in Morocco and will wear the Wallabies No.10 jersey in Sunday's (AEDT) clash with Ireland in Dublin.

O'Connor, 35, is now playing for the Leicester Tigers and was not picked in coach Joe Schmidt's initial squad for the northern hemisphere tour.

But Carter Gordon's quadriceps issue forced Schmidt's hand and O'Connor has again leapfrogged Tane Edmed in the playmaking pecking order.

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Gordon impressed in the 26-19 loss to Italy before being forced from the field.

"He pulled up immediately after making a kick, his quad cramped up, and we just think it's a bit of a risk to put him back out there this week," Schmidt said.

"So that's ruled Carter out, so it left us with Tane, and that's one of the reasons we brought James back in, and Tane's had quite a busy schedule in recent times.

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"We've tried to get some freshness into the squad, there's a bit of wear and tear, to be honest. James was away on holiday in Morocco, so he's a little bit fresher and we're hoping that gives us a bit of a bounce into the game."

World Rugby regulations meant O'Connor was not available for the Tests against Japan and England but he could have played against Italy instead of enjoying the North Africa sun.

"I guess hindsight's a wonderful thing. I guess we've tried to have foresight in where we need to be in a couple of years, and what we need to deliver," Schmidt said.

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"And so that's always been the equation and I'm not even good at math, so I've got a number of equations wrong in my time. I definitely feel that Tane is improving, he's growing in confidence as well.

"It's been unlucky with Carter that he's just had a couple of niggles that haven't quite allowed him to get the repetition of training and games."

Australia are hoping fresh legs in their team will give them a much-needed lift as they continue to labour through the last weeks of their season.

Schmidt made six changes to the team beaten in Udine last Saturday for this weekend's clash against Ireland in Dublin, including a return for John Eales Medallist Len Ikitau.

"We're just trying to mitigate some of the wear and tear and get a fresh 15 out there," he said.

Last weekend's loss was the fifth in the last six matches for a Wallabies side building towards Australia hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

"I've learned a long time ago, you can't please all the people all the time, but we've got to build some depth," said Schmidt, weighing up long-term goals with short-term success.

"I feel like if you don't have strength and depth, you're too vulnerable. But how do you learn and how do you get better? I think the only way to do it is in the arena, and at some stage, you've got to trust everyone in your squad.

"If you've selected them, then they have to be ready for whatever is demanded of them once they put on a Test jersey.

"So, it's a balance there. I don't think anyone gets it right all the time, not even some of those countries who have really, really good depth, and can replace player for player without any observable kind of dilution in what they deliver."

Schmidt will be leaving his role next year when Les Kiss takes over and struck a confident note despite a tough year for the Wallabies.

"The boys have been great, and we're getting better. We're talking about human beings, and we're talking about people who fluctuate and may feel a bit of fatigue, or they may feel a little bit of a distraction, or maybe you miss a couple of guys who are really important in your fulcrum, and that can impact things, but I feel like we're making progress," he added.

Schmidt also shuffled the pack, with Allan Alaalatoa returning at tighthead in place of Taniela Tupou and Tom Hooper moving from flanker into the second row to allow Rob Valetini to pack down on the blindside.

Ikitau takes Hunter Paisami's place at centre.

The speedy Max Jorgensen goes to fullback, with Andrew Kellaway dropping to the bench, while Filipo Daugunu is in for Corey Toole on the right wing.

Tom Robertson has been selected as the substitute loosehead prop, while Nick Frost drops to the bench as second row cover with Carlo Tizzano coming into the 23 as the replacement for the loose forwards.

For Ireland, Mack Hansen returns from injury to make a first Test start at fullback and captain Caelan Doris moves to the flank.

Regular fullback Hugo Keenan and Jamie Osborne are both out injured, meaning Australia-born winger Hansen moves to the No.15 jersey, where he has played the last four games for Irish club Connacht.

Prop Paddy McCarthy earns a first start in international rugby and a third cap overall as Ireland look to improve on an indifferent last few matches that include defeat to New Zealand in Chicago and a 41-10 win over Japan last weekend.

Hansen is part of a back three that also includes wingers Tommy O'Brien and James Lowe, while Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey are the centre pairing.

Sam Prendergast gets a run at flyhalf, alongside the vastly experienced Jamison Gibson-Park in the No.9 jersey.

Jack Conan is back in the starting XV at No.8, with Doris and Ryan Baird the other loose forwards.

James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne are in the second row, with hooker Dan Sheehan packing down with props McCarthy and Tadhg Furlong.

"There's great respect and familiarity between Ireland and Australia," said Ireland coach Andy Farrell, who beat the Wallabies with the British and Irish Lions earlier this year.

"There has been a good buzz around training this week and the players are excited about the challenge that awaits. For us it's about putting in an 80-plus minute performance and to try and implement our gameplan in front of what we know will be a vocal home support."

IRELAND (15-1): Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris (c), Ryan Baird, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Paddy McCarthy

Reserves: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Nick Timoney, Cian Prendergast, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Bundee Aki

AUSTRALIA (15-1): Max Jorgensen, Filipo Daugunu Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, James O'Connor, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Jeremy Williams, Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Reserves: Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Zane Nonggorr, Nick Frost, Carlo Tizzano, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway