WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks captain Scott Barrett returned to form and helped the Crusaders to their accustomed station atop the standings after the weekend’s ninth round of Super Rugby.

Both events would have come as a relief to New Zealand coach Scott Robertson who will lean heavily on Barrett and the Crusaders when he chooses his All Blacks squad to play France in three tests in July.

Barrett’s lack of form had become an issue prior to Friday’s match against the Hurricanes which the Crusaders won 31-24, holding on at the end with only 13 players.

Barrett produced a strong all-round performance as a reliable target at lineouts, a tenacious defender and offering a key try assist in a tight match.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney was quick to defend Barrett from critics who’d suggested the All Blacks captaincy was up for grabs.

“I don’t know what they expect,” Penney said after Friday’s win. “For us he’s been awesome and today he had those moments which he’s really capable of doing. He put one out there today and it was a game-changer.”

Another eye-catching performances for the Crusaders came from former Wallabies flyhalf James O’Connor in a brief cameo off the bench. O’Connor pounced on an over-throw at a lineout, split two defenders and scored under the posts.

His form for the Crusaders may have piqued the interest of Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt, who is preparing to select an Australia squad to face the British and Irish Lions.