'I've got my eyes on it': James O'Connor eyes international return

One of the most talked about signings in Super Rugby Pacific 2025 is 63-Test Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor’s switch from the Queensland Reds to the Crusaders.

O’Connor has largely been used off the bench in Rob Penney’s side so far this season, but may be needed in a more important starting role, as Crusaders first five Taha Kemara left the field on Saturday night against the Highlanders with a knee injury.

O’Connor has been widely discussed as an option for Joe Schmidt in the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia later on in 2025, as well as a possible switch to the All Blacks in 2026 if he doesn’t represent the Wallabies in 2025.

The Crusaders playmaker joined Israel Dagg and Scotty Stevenson on their Sports Nation morning radio show for an interview, where the 63-Test Wallaby talked openly about how much he’s enjoying the 2025 season at the Crusaders.

“The care and feeling I could feel when I first rocked up like people coming to pick you up from the airport like the house was ready. Like, everything was sorted, everyone’s very welcoming,” O’Connor said on Sports Nation’s show with Scotty and Izzy.

“But even away from the footy side, which is sort of quite different to the structure I’m used to in Australia, just that mindset stuff like there was a line drawn in the sand. The boys and the coaches and the whole organisation did not shy away from talking about winning, whereas, I haven’t been a part of a team that sort of done it this way.

“You always talk about, we want to play well, and we want to build, and we want to have success, and we back ourselves, but blatantly, just putting it out there, like we want the trophy.”

O’Connor, who last represented the Wallabies in 2022 and the Australia A in 2023, has put his hand up to play for his country this year.

“I don’t think it ever goes away, but it’s definitely been rejuvenated, I think just sort of jumping out of the place I was, and coming to a new environment, new challenge, new guys to sort of face off at training and even a new style of rugby.

“It’s really invigorated me, and I’m feeling fresh, I think probably does help to play sort of 20-30 minutes a game. So I’m feeling as fast as I ever have, so that’s a that’s a bonus.

“But yeah, look, I definitely have my eyes on it.”

When asked about the impact substitute playmaker Rivez Reihana had on Saturday’s encounter in Dunedin, O’Connor was full of praise for the returning 24-year-old.

“Rivez was huge for us and he’s an incredible player as well. I think he was a little bit hard done by because he got injured in preseason, and then, Taha (Kemara) took the reins, and then I was on the bench.

“Rivez had to wait for his opportunity, and unfortunately, that’s sort of come at the cost of Taha. But he stood up in that game and took the ball to the line, he’s a big body too, he loves to carry.”

O’Connor was honest about the battle for the starting first-five jersey for the Crusaders, saying that he’ll likely still be coming off the bench, despite the injury to Kemara. 

“I think, Rivez will take the keys and do some things with them, he can take the keys.”