Former Manu Samoa No 10 and freelance rugby scribe Campbell Burnes argues that the Crusaders are putting a lot of eggs in the James O’Connor basket.
By the time you read this, the Crusaders’ No 10/first five situation may be clearer.
Maybe… after all, the franchise had a few issues there in 2024, its annus horribilis, using no less than five 10s, including David Havili. Richie Mo’unga’s exit was always going to be a major loss, but his back-up Ferg Burke was out for most of the season and Taha Kemara and Rivez Reihana were both hit by untimely injuries. They had to whistle up journeyman Riley Hohepa from drainlaying to steer the ship. He did his best, but many other pieces of the Crusaders’ ship were coming loose.
So for 2025, in which the Crusaders faithful will demand an immediate return to the playoffs, they have put much of their faith in former Wallaby James O’Connor. The 34-year-old is well past his peak but has been around the traps, including three Aussie Super Rugby sides, and has a wide skillset. Hell, he was winning Bledisloe Cup Tests for the Wallabies as far back as 2010, not to mention taking Super Rugby by storm way back in 2008 as a 17-year-old who played with no fear, plenty of confidence and a heap of razzle dazzle.
O’Connor looks unlikely to add to his 64 Tests any time soon, but he would love nothing better than a Super Rugby Pacific title to add to his long CV.
He’d been a bit of a maverick in his day, with the odd off-field misdemeanour, but that is all now seemingly well behind him. At heart he looks to be a decent bloke. At Rugby World Cup 2011, for example, he dropped in on his old primary school in west Auckland to say gidday to his favourite teacher.
The Crusaders have not always struck gold with their imports. Injury derailed fullback Leigh Halfpenny’s hopes last season. But loose forward Pablo Matera was one who performed well above expectations and won a title in 2019.
O’Connor has not just crossed the Tasman for a haircut or to mentor Reihana, who looks most likely to challenge O’Connor to start, and Kemara. He’s a competitor and will want to be starting and running the cutter. Just don’t expect him to play like Mo’unga. He’s not as fast as he was when he played Test rugby on the wing, the footwork – an ability to step off either foot – is not quite as electric, but what he does possess is a decent rugby brain and kicking game to help drive his forwards around the park. If the pack gives him a decent platform, then he should go alright. And he has the priceless ability to kick goals at a high percentage.
Crusaders fans should expect him to add instant value. Just don’t expect Andrew Mehrtens or Dan Carter (the early Crusader version) every week in red and black. O’Connor is good, but not that good. If he stays fit and copes with the pace, then he may just help them back to the playoffs. We wish him well. But it’s still a gamble. Sometimes they pay off. Rob Penney and all Crusaders fans are banking on it.
