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The James O'Connor verdict on ‘sped-up’ rugby, life in New Zealand

James O'Connor at Crusaders training in February (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

It may be leaving him gasping for air, but James O’Connor is loving the new high-octane pace of the Super Rugby Pacific as much as his eyebrow-raising move to New Zealand itself. If O’Connor thought he was leaving the hustle and bustle of Brisbane for a slower life, with wife and dog, in Christchurch, the 34-year-old has quickly discovered otherwise.

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While he has found time off field to enjoy the peace and serenity of New Zealand’s South Island treasures, rule changes to speed up play on the field have left O’Connor equally breathless. After defecting from the Queensland Reds to the Crusaders, O’Connor claimed pre-season Super Rugby was the fastest level of the game he had encountered.

But now the former Wallabies playmaker and gamebreaker reckons the competition has hit another level after more than 1,000 points were recorded in the first 15 games over the opening three rounds in 2025. That equates to an extraordinary 67.4 points a match.

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Rassie Erasmus provides an update on Eben Etzebeth ahead of the Test season

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“Well, you look at how fast everyone is scoring. It is because they are speeding the game up,” O’Connor said ahead of the Crusaders’ showdown with his old Reds teammates in Christchurch on Sunday. “There is more fatigue out there. There is more ball-a-minute play.

“Even for me as a goalkicker, I’m still getting my breath and I’m getting the 10-second call to kick the ball. So, like, I’m enjoying it. The game has definitely been sped up. There is more attacking pictures. For the fans as well it has got to be pretty cool to watch.”

Even in his twilight years, O’Connor is endorsing the conscious effort of officials to up rugby’s tempo to make the game more entertaining. “You are always going to have a balance and we’ will find that, but people will want to see attacking footy.

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“And there is still – as you saw on the weekend, a lot of the weekends – the teams that defended better still won. So you have to have a balanced game.”

O’Connor believes the faster-paced rugby is catching out teams – and players who can’t keep up. “You are seeing guys go down if they are not involved in that same play,” he said. “So I guess teams that want to slow the game down, they are not being able to do that.

“And also teams that want to close games out with, like, 10, 15 minutes to go, they are not being able to do that either. So it’s just making the fight, the contest, so much better.”

Overall, O’Connor reckons a fast game is a good game. “That is the beauty of rugby,” he said. “It’s a game of chaos and whoever can be the most calm in it, usually comes out on the other side.”

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After starting with a match-winning cameo in round one against the Hurricanes, O’Connor is also fast proving a fan favourite for the Crusaders on the field and off. “Yeah, it’s cool, definitely. From when I first came, there was sort of mixed reviews,” he said. “It was like, ‘Do we really want an Aussie over here?’

“Well, look, I have got Kiwi parents and I’m just enjoying the challenge. I’m enjoying the culture. We had the week off the bye week, jumped in the camper van and went up north, you know, Marlborough Sounds to Kaikoura. I’m exploring the country and just really loving it with my wife and my dog.

“Everyone has been so inclusive and I can’t speak more highly of the players. I have just really enjoyed it. So now I just want to deliver footy-wise and give back in that way.”

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Comments

4 Comments
A
AT 126 days ago

I think it was a Great Move to bring James to the Crusaders as to be honest since losing Richie we have struggled at 10 and hopefully with James input that's starts to change plus I must admit I would like to see James O'Connor given more time on the pitch or even as a starter even at this early time in the season. He still has the Magic and when he gets the Ball there is that feeling that something special is going to happen. So Welcome to Christchurch James and family.

G
GP 126 days ago

I agree with your comments. Fergus Burke being out for an extended period , recovering from achilles rupture did not help. Fergus really came of age as a player. Now he is at Saracens. Taha Kemara has grown as a player, but I would still like James O’Connor to get a start. I think he knows how to break a game open. Obviously Richie Mo’unga is one of the greats. The AB’s also miss him big time.

A
AT 126 days ago

Top bloke and rugby stalwart

G
GP 128 days ago

My opinion is James O’Connor is going so well , coming from Aussie to the Crusaders. A really nice guy, he is working hard and been so open in the way he answers questions. He is helping develop Taha Kemara’a game and has embraced the Crusaders team culture and the region itself. James is a top man,. Go well Sunday.

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J
Jfp123 1 hour ago
France push All Blacks to 80th minute in narrow Dunedin defeat

I can see we’re not going to agree on this. France haven’t actually contravened the rules. The Top14 finished in June, it didn’t extend into July. If it had, no doubt there’d be people baying for penalties to be imposed, if they could.


The Top14 is actually a shining light for rugby, along with the Pro D2 and National 1, they provide professional employment for thousands of rugby players, trained by top class coaches, competing regularly with and against top class players, and Jiff isn’t limited to French, so players from around the world, as well as French, have opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have, bolstering many international teams, not just their own.


As I see it, it’s not up to rivals to dictate their opponents’ tactics, and the French are entitled to run their National squad exactly as they choose, it makes no difference what “everyone”, in your view, else does. If the French value their Top14 and choose to send out development teams, that’s their entirely their prerogative, and no concern of NZ fans and pundits. I could equally well argue that NZ are disrespecting international competitions by not playing their full A team, because they ban players who play club rugby abroad. But I won’t, because just as France rightly have the freedom to approach selection as they choose, so do NZ.


Top14 isn’t perfect - I’d like to see more concern for player welfare, but that means having time for rest and recuperation, not replacing Top14 matches with international ones, so the burden remains the same. Imo, preferably limits on playing hours and bigger squads.

262 Go to comments
t
takata 1 hour ago
Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

This is another chicken of the egg situation takata. They have the number of players available because (in part) they are subsidized for having internationals.

Nope… no subside from FFR to get LNR players (LNR is actually subsiding FFR), but LNR clubs are allowed to exceed their salary cap by a certain ammount per selectionned player. Hence, Toulouse, who is providing the highest number of player, is allowed to spend about 3 million more on top of its 10.5 limit to pay for international replacements. Those 3 million are taken from the club budget (FFR has no cash to pay that).


There is a system of bonus paid by FFR directly to players but it’s only linked to the team performance if there is tournament prize money (mostly 6N and WC).


Why are TOP14 fans bemoaning the lack of star signings these days

I didn’t hear, from where I stand, a single fan around me bemoaning about the lack of star in their championship. So I really don’t know what you are refering to. Club’s recruitment policy tend to evolve because the number of non-JIFF player allowed in their team is decreasing year after year. They are primarily aiming at youngsters (from anywhere) for their academies as they can get the JIFF status after forming there for 3 years. Of course, only a few will make it to Top 14 team sheet one day.

Last I hear, half the pack of the Pumitas (Argentina’s U20) are already signed by French clubs for next season. One of them looks very promising… and is heading to Toulouse.

363 Go to comments
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