Ex-Wallaby James O’Connor reflects on match-winning heroics for Crusaders

Commentator Grant Nisbett summed up the Crusaders’ thrilling 25-22 win over the Blues best, saying James O’Connor had “suddenly” become “a local hero” in Christchurch. With time up on the clock, the former Wallaby stepped up and slotted a clutch penalty to snatch the win at home.

While the Crusaders went into this match as firm favourites, as they sat in first place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder after nine rounds, their rivalry with the Blues rarely disappoints. It was also another crucial test for the defending champions, who are at risk of missing the playoffs.

Vern Cotter’s Blues occupied eighth spot ahead of this clash, adding to the already intense atmosphere of a decisive New Zealand derby. It was a tense first half, with Tamaiti Williams and Will Jordan both scoring first-half tries as the hosts took a 14-7 lead into the sheds.

Backrower Christian Lio-Willie added another five points to the Crusaders’ advantage only a few minutes into the second term, but the Blues went on a point-scoring blitz by scoring 15 unanswered which changed the match completely.

In James O’Connor we trust 😮‍💨

Is there anyone one else you’d trust to take the match winning kick?#SuperRugbyPacific #CRUvBLU pic.twitter.com/bNgCt5yb6v

— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) April 18, 2025

The Blues led 22-19 with 10 minutes left, but two late penalty goals from O’Connor secured a dramatic win for the Crusaders. In tough conditions, the Aussie gave that final kick everything, sending the ball straight through the middle of the uprights.

“Once it went through it felt pretty good,” O’Connor said post-game on Sky Sport. “Just back to process, you’ve got to block everything out, step-by-step and just keep the mind clear.

“When the boys were scrumming I could feel something coming.

“As soon as I’m within drop goal [range], time’s up, I’m having a crack there.

“I’m really enjoying this role. Taha’s [Kemara] setting the temp really well, putting us in the right areas of the field and my job is to come on with about five minutes or 10 minutes to go and I guess do that hopefully.”

With five minutes left to play, the Crusaders had the feed into a scrum inside their own 22. With the scores locked at 22-all, the home side desperately needed to get out of trouble, and it was O’Connor who delivered with a perfectly executed clearance kick.

Fans let out a massive cheer for the replacement first five-eighth as both teams prepared for a lineout 10 metres inside the Blues’ half. That wasn’t the end of the drama, though, with a nervy game of force ‘em back dominating the dying stages of the match.

O’Connor, Sevu Reece, Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan and Chay Fihaki were among the players involved in this exchange, as both teams looked to make the most of the rainy conditions that added to the theatre of the contest.

Rieko Ioane knocked the ball on with less than 50 seconds to play, which gave the Crusaders a chance to mount a match-winning charge. The home side’s forwards delivered with a menacing scrum, which resulted in a penalty less than 40 metres out.

Enter James O’Connor.

The rest was history.

“Yeah it was tough,” Havili reflected.

“We’ve found our DNA again, especially at home. We played here at the start of the year when we didn’t really get the performance we wanted and then we came out tonight and the boys really stepped up.

“We love this. We love it when it’s like this. Our forward pack really stepped up tonight.

“I guess the penalty count didn’t go our way but that’s something we can work on.”