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All Blacks comfortably retain the Bledisloe but suffer another RWC injury scare
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
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
31 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments