Former Wallaby Matt Giteau says it will be “a waste” if Australian rugby’s former golden boy James O’Connor doesn’t get another opportunity at Test level.

O’Connor is reportedly on the verge of signing a long-term deal with the Queensland Reds, which could see him back in the Wallabies squad as soon as this week after departing English club Sale.

The 28-year-old made his Wallabies debut at 18 before his international career was cut short in 2013, after 44 Tests, following a series of off-field incidents.

O’Connor returned to Australia with the Reds in 2015 to play at the World Cup that year, but he was overlooked and returned to Europe.

Giteau played with O’Connor at Toulon and believes it will be “silly” to leave the utility back out of World Cup calculations, with the tournament in Japan later this year.

“The ability he’s got to cover so many positions and to cover them at a world-class level, it would be silly not to at least consider him for that squad,” Giteau told PlayersVoice.

“It would be a waste if he didn’t get another opportunity – for him and Australian rugby.”

Giteau admits O’Connor “rated himself” early in his career but remains convinced the once prodigious talent has matured and deserves his shot at redemption.

“He definitely rubbed some people up the wrong way, and got into some dramas, and for a lot of Australians that’s the last image of him,” Giteau said.

“He now understands how much he enjoyed playing for Australia, and how much he has missed not playing for his country having been given such an opportunity at such a young age.

“When something is taken away from you, you realise how much you miss it.

“He’s at a place now where he understands what he did wrong. The only way we can learn is from our mistakes and that’s how we get better. He’s developed a lot as a person – more team-oriented, more level as a guy.

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. If you have both, you can be unstoppable.”