James O’Connor, a 34-year-old who played more than 60 times for the Wallabies, says an opportunity to play for the Crusaders is a dream come true and believes he can still operate at the highest of levels.

This of course will be music to the ears of the Crusaders and their coach Rob Penney, a man who did not have the luxury of picking Richie Mo’unga last season and who rotated through a series of first-fives, including youngsters Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara and the more experienced Riley Hohepa and David Havili, without success.

Penney was also without the services of Fergus Burke for most of the season due to injury, and Burke’s announcement that he was off to play for English club Saracens would likely have been the final straw in terms of motivation to cast the net beyond the Tasman Sea.

The Crusaders finished ninth of 12 teams last season, winning only four of 14 matches.

So a club desperately searching for a capable and experienced No.10 has landed O’Connor, a talented but mercurial player effectively looking for a home after being frozen out by the Reds last season.

We will know in a couple of months whether it’s a match made in heaven, but the signs appear good.

O’Connor, speaking to the media at the Crusaders’ Rugby Park headquarters this morning, is grateful at the welcome he and his partner – and dog – have received in Christchurch and is eager to repay the franchise’s faith.

“Probably the biggest transition has been the speed of training here,” he said. “It’s been tasty.

“I always had a hunger to play in a New Zealand Super team. It’s no secret that I tried in 2021 at the Chiefs [a move that was vetoed by Rugby Australia]. But I thought that dream was over and it all happened so quickly.”

O’Connor played his last game for the Wallabies in the middle of 2022 and there has always been a feeling in Australia and beyond that he never truly reached his full potential.

He made his Test debut at the age of 18 after playing Super Rugby for the Western Force at 17 but moves to the Rebels, London Irish, Reds, Sale Sharks and back to Queensland (and now the Crusaders) hint at not only a nomadic lifestyle but also someone unable to find his niche.

In an interview with ESPN in January this year, O’Connor, born on the Gold Coast to Kiwi parents and who went to primary school in Auckland, admitted it had taken him a while to mature.

"I think everyone has this journey. It probably just took me a little longer to grow up. I did have the nickname ‘Peter Pan’ for a while.”

This morning, he said: “I feel there’s a level I haven’t quite achieved yet, hence coming here to compete for a spot in the most successful Super team… that will be very telling on what happens next.

“Other teams I’ve been a part of have shied away from winning but that’s not the case here.

“We know the standard that has been set. It’s awesome for me to come here because that’s how I operate as well. I want to win and I want to compete.

“My job is to just come here and play footy. If I can guide in certain areas – I have played the game a long time so I do have a bit more wisdom in some areas.”

At the same time, O'Connor, who has signed a one-year deal, said: “I'm learning a few things.

“Over the Ditch we do talk about how successful the Crusaders are and I do want to see what happens here. I have intentions to move into coaching further down the track.

“My number one intention is to come here and play the best footy I’ve ever played because I do have other goals in rugby."