James O’Connor hails ‘intelligent’ and ‘headstrong’ All Blacks star who makes him ‘get out of the way’ as he teases new Crusaders move
Will Jordan in action for Crusaders against the Chiefs and Wallabies fly-half James O'Connor.
James O’Connor has praised Crusaders’ world-class full-back Will Jordan and has revealed the gifted All Black has come up with a new move for this weekend.
The 26-year-old is considered one of the best players in the sport having touched down a remarkable 38 times in 41 Tests.
Jordan is eighth on New Zealand’s all-time try-scoring list but is just 11 behind the leader Doug Howlett, who tops the chart with 49.
O’Connor is now experiencing firsthand the class that the speedster possesses having signed for the Crusaders ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Good Crusaders start
They both played their part in the team’s opening victory as the Christchurch-based outfit overcame the Hurricanes 33-25.
The Australian international came off the bench in that encounter to make an impact and he will seek to do so again having once again been selected among the replacements.
Jordan, meanwhile, continues to be a key cog in the Crusaders machine. The All Blacks star has always had incredible athletic talent thanks to his pace, footwork and balance, but O’Connor also believes that he reads the game remarkably well.
“He’s got a very calm demeanour and he’s an intelligent guy. He’s very analytical with the way he sees the game,” the 34-year-old told the GBRANZ podcast.
“Some of the moves he comes up with and little shapes are pretty cool. There’s one coming this week [against the Chiefs] so it’s all on him this one. If it works, he’s a genius.
“He’s very headstrong as well. We’ve been joking about it in training. I set up a play and then swung back to jump into the pivot role. Normally, he would move out and I was like, ‘Move bro’, but he was like, ‘F*** you, you move’.
“We ended up scoring in the corner and I was like, ‘yeah sweet’.”
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Adapting to the Crusaders’ way
Such is the ability of Jordan and his team-mates, O’Connor admits that he has almost had to take a step back at times with those Crusaders backline stars taking control.
“A lot of the other teams I’ve been in lately when I’ve been playing 10, I’ve been the main shot caller, whereas on the weekend I was getting out of the way a lot of the time because they’ve got really great combinations between him and [David] Havili and Sevu Reece, that’s just to mention one or two names,” he added.
“It’s interesting for me. Where I would naturally come to see something, he’s (Jordan) already there and somebody’s already in that spot, and seeing that space, it’s pretty cool.”
