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All Blacks comfortably retain the Bledisloe but suffer another RWC injury scare

By Online Editors
Richie Mo’unga keeps his place in the New Zealand team

The All Blacks have suffered another injury blow. Out-half Richie Mo’unga was sidelined with a shoulder injury in the 58th minute of Bledisloe Cup II at Eden Park, a rematch comfortably won by New Zealand by 36-0. 

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Mo’unga was influential during the start of the clash against the Wallabies, scoring the first try of the game followed by three conversions.

The severity of Mo’unga’s injury is still unknown but the team will be hoping it isn’t serious with next month’s World Cup fast approaching.

Just last week, centre Jack Goodhue left the field with an upper leg injury in the opening quarter in Perth. Brodie Retallick is also still recovering after suffering a shoulder dislocation against South Africa last month.

In Auckland, it was Bledisloe Cup kept. Wallabies kept to nil. Job done for Steve Hansen. Actually, more than that: vindication.

https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1162684993732141056?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

The head coach was under a bit of scrutiny this week before his 100th test in charge of the All Blacks, no doubt about it. Was this game plan right? Was dropping the experienced Rieko Ioane and Ben Smith right? What about the dual playmakers? The loose forward trio?

All of those questions were answered, including the question about whether this team is too old and on the decline. Not on this evidence – not when they play with energy and enthusiasm and an intensity which at times threatened to strip the wet grass off the pitch in front of an increasingly raucous crowd of 48,000.

No, when they needed to show something they haven’t so far this year, they brought the full monty. It made Hansen proud, an emotion that shone through strongly afterwards.

“We had to respond to a performance last week that we would all say wasn’t good enough from our point of view and an exceptional one from Australia,” he said. “It’s a long time in sport, seven days, and I’m very proud of them.

“We got toweled up last week and I’m not sure any All Black has enjoyed that experience.”

One of the most pleasing things for Hansen will be how all of his men responded; not only his pack, who shoved their opposites around with relish, and not only his playmakers Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett, but also his new and inexperienced wings George Bridge and Sevu Reece, and his replacements off the bench.

“You don’t put people in your team if you don’t expect them to be able to play like you think they will,” Hansen said about Bridge and Reece. “I think everyone saw what happened, they both played very well.”

https://twitter.com/patmck6/status/1162589510942613504

All of the bench provided an impact and few will be happier with his return than Jordie Barrett, the utility back who went to fullback after replacing the injured Mo’unga and added a real spark. If Jordie’s place on the plane to Japan in a few weeks was in doubt, it probably isn’t now.

Another is Patrick Tuipulotu, a lock under a bit of pressure to play to his size – and he is a big man. He did that, including ringing Kurtley Beale’s bell in the second half with a front-on tackle the Wallabies fullback might still be feeling in a few days. The Blues second-rower may have just booked himself a ticket, too.

Sonny Bill Williams, excellent on his return to second-five after missing last weekend, said afterwards there were a few backs to the wall this week after some tough conversations. With that can come tightness, but here all of Hansen’s men expressed themselves to the fullest.

It was a reminder that you can’t win tests without doing the basics well, but also that these are extremely talented players under Hansen’s control and if they get things right very few teams can stay with them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1LA_NBI5wf/

What about keeping the Wallabies to nil? Was that some achievement after the record 47-26 defeat in Perth? “It is because they’re a very good attacking side as we saw last week.”

Defeated coach Michael Cheika said: “It’s about being vigilant all the time. If not, they will get you.”

– New Zealand Herald

WATCH: Wallaby coach Michael Cheika speaks to the media before the Bledisloe Cup rematch

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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