‘Are you serious?’ – Crusaders legend hits out at transfer target ‘taking the position away’ from a potential All Black
Crusaders legend Wyatt Crockett has reacted to his former team potentially signing ex-Wallabies star James O’Connor.
Crockett is the only player in the history of Super Rugby to play 200 games in the competition, winning the tournament on four occasions. He also notched up 71 Test caps with the All Blacks, winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup with New Zealand.
Speaking on SENZ Radio’s Mornings with Ian Smith, the former prop was caught off guard by the reports that ex-Wallabies star O’Connor was being lined up by his former employers.
James O’Connor to the Crusaders?
The Crusaders have struggled to replace the world-class Richie Mo’unga, who headed to Japan following the 2023 Rugby World Cup. and their fly-half stocks were further hit with Fergus Burke’s departure to Saracens after the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
According to a report by the New Zealand Herald, the Crusaders have looked to boost their experience in the backline and are close to finalising a deal to sign O’Connor, who departed the Queensland Reds for “an overseas opportunity.”
When the Reds announced the news, many thought the 34-year-old would be returning north – having played for the likes of London Irish, Toulon and Sale Sharks – or taking up a contract in Japan.
However, that does not seem to be the case with the Crusaders looking to bolster their options at fly-half with youngsters Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara vying for the role, while the David Havili experiment at ten is also set to stop. The club also had Leigh Halfpenny primed to fill the role this past season but he has since joined English Premiership club Harlequins.
