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Super Rugby Pacific

James O'Connor vers les Crusaders ?

Par Jérémy Fahner

Il y a 80 jours

James O'Connor avait annoncé en septembre dernier qu'il quittait les Reds, son équipe depuis 2019. Il devrait toutefois rester dans le Super Rugby, mais aux Crusaders (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images).

En difficulté sur le poste de demi d’ouverture depuis le départ de Richie Mo’Unga au Japon, les Crusaders seraient actuellement en discussion avec James O’Connor, à en croire le NZ Herald.

Un membre de la franchise de Super Rugby Pacific a confié au journal néo-zélandais que les deux parties étaient en contact en vue de l’annonce des équipes engagées dans la compétition, fin octobre.

L’ancien Wallaby (34 ans, 64 sélections), riche de 127 apparitions en Super Rugby et d’une centaine de matchs dans les championnats européens (notamment en Top 14 sous les couleurs du RC Toulon), serait une recrue de choix pour les Crusaders.

La franchise de Christchurch a remporté sept trophées de Super Rugby consécutifs sous la houlette de Scott Roberston, désormais sélectionneur des All Blacks. Elle est depuis rentrée dans le rang et cherche à reconstruire une équipe compétitive.

O’Connor était rentré en Australie en 2019 et jouait depuis aux Reds. Mais l’émergence de Tom Lynagh (l’un des fils de la légende Michael Lynagh) et de l’international U20 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips a poussé le joueur ultra polyvalent (il peut jouer du 10 au 15) a chercher un autre point de chute.

En septembre, il indiquait qu’il quittait les Reds pour « saisir des opportunités à l’étranger ». On imaginait alors que l’ancien golden boy du rugby australien serait plutôt en quête d’un contrat lucratif en Europe.

Son avenir devrait plutôt se situer en Nouvelle-Zélande.

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Comments on RugbyPass

GP 7 minutes ago

Aki Tuivailala: The latest Hamilton Boys High product in Crusaders colours

Great to see Aki Tuivailala at the Crusaders. Played well for Waikato and NZ Under 20's. Hamilton Boys High has become a great feeder for the Crusaders . Plenty of great local talent coming through, such outstanding young lock Liam Jack. Nephew of All Black Chris Jack. His Dad Graham was in the NPC winning Canterbury team of 1997 . Locked the scrum with Reuben Thorne. Two of his team mates Dads were in that team too, Todd Blackadder, ( captain) , son is Ethan and Angus Gardiner son is Dominic.

2 Go to comments

GP 20 minutes ago

Crusaders' 2024 bronco king talks preseason, Dupont and mentorship

Kyle Preston looks the goods. Fit , had great form for Wellington in the NPC. He is going to do well for the Crusaders. Like his last name sake Jon Preston, ( who played for Canterbury and Wellington, same position in the 1990's), he is one of the fittest around. Great he mentions Mitchell Drummond. As he said he is a great mentor and leader in the Crusaders.

2 Go to comments

JW 22 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

What are you talking about? Those facts are all well and good but what sort of thought were they supposed to lead me to?

183 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 45 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Look there are a few unarguable facts here that are very clear. SARU was close to bankruptcy with SR, bailed out by the Lions and they need the URC and EPCR. Inclusion of SA teams in URC has been a great for for ALL concerned, from a rugby perspective and financially, moreover there is massive growth yet to come. The GP is in financial trouble and this will be the catalyst for EPCR change to further cement the Boks.

If this all plays out with even greater rewards for the urc AND the Top14 & GP via EPCR, the 6N will become 7N. Nz and Aus NEED to get their version firing with Japan & the PI’s, otherwise they will find themselves increasingly regressing…

183 Go to comments

GrahamVF 48 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

🤣

183 Go to comments

JW 55 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Thats exactly the criticism Ed, that it should haev already been done for generations. A strong SA, in many respects, should certainly help African rugby develop. You'd have to think they'd acclimatize much better being drawn to a pro SA club than say a European. Hopefully the fact theyve gone private (is that right Graham?) should enable this sort of change.

183 Go to comments

JW 58 minutes ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

What do you by slice of the pie? I thought each was it's own separate financials (after prev broadcast deals were I think it was plit 1/3 each with SA bringing in the most, to then be shared out) after like 2015?

183 Go to comments

GrahamVF 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

Thanks Ed.

183 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

What are you referring to Graham? Was this response meant for another post of mine?

Really interested in what you might be talking about, what will take generations? Are you referring to my suggestion the universities offer scholarships to South American talent?

183 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

2024 in review: Beauden Barrett’s brilliance sparks thrilling All Blacks win

Perofeta came back and was available for the eoyt right? Or was that why Love was in the squad (but got injured in the last week)?

It was such a frustrating year. Perofeta looked a service stop gap until Jordan was fit, but then got injured. Plummer was selected because of Pero's injury and dmac shat the bed in the second half in Australia but Clarke (?) got himself binned at the 65 min mark so Plummer couldn't come on (at least with the risk adverse Razors thinking) when he was planned to.

So many other exciting opportunities that could have happened without injuries, but then theyre probably balanced by knowing Sititi probably wouldn't have been given a chance without multiple injuries happened.

3 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’ under Razor

If they want to improve they need a backs coach. Thats the big area they have failed this year. Talent isnt the problem. Coaching is.

10 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’ under Razor

Agree, the team isn't really in transition anymore, that happened very early, and looks to have been completed by the Argentina loss, that they fixed the cause of that Foster type result and it didn't happen again.

Disagree with how you want to lock in the team like this. As Cantab suggests the real way this team is going to move forward now is by maximising the talent, and there are plenty of other ways the forward pack could potential be improved, so it is going to need some creative and ingenuitive coaching if ABs are going to prove good enough anymore.

10 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’ under Razor

Yeah it was good to get Brodie and Sam out of the road, even Aaron was becoming a stagnant factor for the side. Just need a few more to go now.

10 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’ under Razor

It will be exciting but It'd be lucky to find replacements for Cane and Beauden who are better. Lol@the great Sader comment!

10 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’ under Razor

With four losses across the season and no Rugby Championship title to show for their efforts, the All Blacks aren’t currently the best team in the world.

No one really killed it more than they did so I'd actually saying they are the best team in the world. You have to think someone improves hugely next year though and I'd expect a lot more stagnation from the All Blacks great leap away from Foster's era.

10 Go to comments

Icefarrow 1 hour ago

2024 in review: Beauden Barrett’s brilliance sparks thrilling All Blacks win

Because Robertson is allergic to risk-taking. Perofeta and Plummer were never once trialled at First Five-Eight, Beauden was kept at Fullback for like half the season despite having close to ten players over the year who can play that position.

3 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Bernard Foley steals spotlight in blow to New Zealand coaching duo

How can we watch the game?

2 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

2024 in review: Beauden Barrett’s brilliance sparks thrilling All Blacks win