James O'Connor is excited about returning to Eden Park © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Christian Cullen | Robbie Deans | James O'Connor

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup | Tri Nations

Teams: Australia | New Zealand

Teenage Wallaby fullback James O'Connor will return to the site of his first rugby memories - Auckland's Eden Park - when his side kick off their Tri-Nations effort against the All Blacks on Saturday.

O'Connor grew up in Auckland rugby league hotbed Te Atatu, idolised All Black fullback Christian Cullen and followed the Blues Super 12 franchise before moving to Sydney's Gold Coast and changing his allegiance from league to union.

"The first games of rugby union I started watching were the All Blacks, Christian Cullen was my favourite player and I definitely supported the All Blacks," he said. "Like every kid in New Zealand there were (dreams of being an All Black). Whenever I was in the backyard playing rugby I was always Christian Cullen."

O'Connor was deemed to small to continue his league pursuit, having missed out on age-grade recognition in New Zealand due to his family's move across the Tasman.

"We ended up playing in weight divisions back then. There were some big boys, and half the time the field was all mud and you couldn't really step away from them," he said. "I played in a junior carnival, under-11s, and they picked an Auckland rep team and we got to train with the Warriors, but I ended up coming over here a week before the training.

"I liked Stacey Jones, he was the man. In rugby it was definitely Cullen and Carlos as well. They were my heroes whenever I was in the backyard."

Despite his New Zealand upbringing, O'Connor is a proud Wallaby. His Kiwi father is struggling to adapt to the sight of his son in the green and gold however.

"I feel Australian. I was born here, this is where I started playing rugby properly. This is where my dream started to be a professional rugby player," he said. "My family's slowly making that transition as well... they're getting there, but Dad's finding it a bit hard.

"I've got a fair few relatives still over in New Zealand. All my cousins are hitting me up for tickets, my grandparents, aunties and uncles. It should be a good occasion.

"I watched a fair few Super 12 games there. It was a good occasion for us as a family. That was where the passion came from, going to Eden Park, so to be able to play there again is an awesome opportunity. "