Super Rugby: New Crusaders recruit James O’Connor in favour of Australian-based All Blacks selection

As discussion continues around New Zealand Rugby’s eligibility rules, Wallabies utility back James O’Connor would like to see All Blacks be available to be picked while playing for an Australian Super Rugby side.

At present, NZ Rugby’s eligibility policy dictates All Blacks caps can only be earned when a player is contracted to the national union. That rule also extends to Super Rugby, where New Zealanders are unable to be picked for the All Blacks if playing for an Australian side.

However, that has been slightly challenged under coach Scott Robertson, who has urged NZR to “keep an open mind” over how the future of player movements could look, as leagues in Japan and France continue to grow.

For O’Connor, who has signed a one-year deal with the Crusaders for the 2025 season, though, relaxing selection rules to allow for transtasman selections would benefit both New Zealand and Australia.

“That’s above my paygrade,” he joked. “With the situation I’m in, of course I’d love that right now.

“It’s one competition, it’s three hours. It’s closer to here [Australia to New Zealand] than it is to Perth.

“We play such different styles. It would be pretty unique for guys to go and experience a year in a different place, instead of going overseas and playing there.

“It would definitely be good for some Aussies.”

At 34, O’Connor’s signing for the Crusaders is a timely one. In 2024, the Crusaders struggled to settle on a first-choice in the No 10 jersey.

Fergus Burke, Taha Kemara, Rivez Reihana, Riley Hohepa and even All Blacks midfielder David Havili were all trialled at various stages, with none able to arrest the Crusaders’ slide down the table.

Burke has since moved to Europe, with O’Connor signed as a like-for-like replacement.

The signing is shrewd to say the least on the Crusaders’ part. They’ve managed to secure a player with 64 test caps, and has experience playing in Super Rugby, as well as in France and England.

And with his deal only being one season long, for now, O’Connor sees it as his responsibility to lead in the Crusaders’ playmaking roles.

“Taha is 21, Rivez is 24,” he explained. “They’ve got the world ahead of them. It’s a beautiful time for them. For me, I’m competing against them. I’ve made it very clear I want that 10 jersey.

Crusaders coach Scott Robertson and No 10 Richie Mo'unga after winning last year's Super Rugby Pacific final. Photo / Photosport

“I want us to all compete for it and bring the best out of each other. At the same time, we need to be able to move not similarly, the team needs to understand that the way we’re all playing is similar.

“If one person goes down, the next one can step up. Still bring your strengths, but the communication is very similar, the language is similar, the lines are quite similar. Then you bring your unique finesse to that.

“There’s been moments where I’ve watched them both and thought it’s going to be hard to get into this 23.”

However, as seen in 2024, filling the Crusaders’ No 10 jersey is no mean feat.

For the seven years before last season, Richie Mo’unga had a stranglehold on the first-five role under Robertson.

Together, they forged a dynasty Super Rugby has never seen before, and could never see again, with seven titles in seven years across three separate competition formats.

In fact, so dominant were the Crusaders with Mo’unga at the helm, that Robertson’s efforts to alter overseas selection rules are widely seen as a method to bring him into All Blacks contention while playing in Japan.

And having to fill that void, O’Connor’s experiences as a player hold him in good stead to know what’s required of him in Christchurch.

“I wouldn’t think of it as pressure, it’s more exciting knowing who’s come before me,” he explained. “I’ve played against Dan [Carter] and Richie, they’re two of the GOATs.

“I’ve never been schooled as much as a 10 than when Richie did us at Suncorp when I was with the Reds. He’s a special player.

“I won’t be playing the same way he plays, I can’t do what he can do. I can do other things in different areas, that’s what I’m trying to do with the coaches.

“I play how I play, I’m James. I have the directive from the coaches, this is the gameplan etc.

“My mind sees the game differently to other players. I see it quite analytically, I played quite a bit of rugby league. The way I count numbers and spot space is different to a natural born 10.

“This is just what I’ve been given and what I’ve worked with. When you try to be something you’re not, it doesn’t usually work out.”

Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.