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'Banished any doubts with this masterclass' - Richie Mo'unga turns heads with nearly perfect performance in Bledisloe III
After drawing the first test of the year 16-all, the All Blacks have gone from strength to strength, with their most recent outing especially impressive. The New Zealanders outclassed the Wallabies in Bledisloe III in Sydney, winning 43-5 in a record-breaking performance.
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Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga was central to the visitors dominance, guiding his side to a decisive victory with a nearly perfect game.
The 26-year-old scored 23-points at ANZ Stadium, including a six-minute double half-way through the first half. Mo’unga also came close to scoring what would’ve been his third just before the break but was tripped up by Wallabies fullback Dane Haylett-Petty five metres from the try-line.
He also had one try assist on the night, sending Jordie Barrett through a gap with just over six minutes left on the clock. Barrett ran the second most metres of any player on Saturday, bettered only by Mo’unga who ran 30 metres more for 101.
Richie Mo’unga was a freak last night in Sydney. We know you want to see his highlights package ? pic.twitter.com/l1hEFijMAs
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) November 1, 2020
Bledisloe III was arguably the coming of age of Mo’unga in a black jersey. Many fans and pundits have said over the past few seasons that he’s been the best flyhalf in New Zealand, winning four-straight Super Rugby titles including Super Rugby Aotearoa.
But he’s been unable to consistently replicate that form in the test arena – certainly not to the level that we saw on Saturday.
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All Blacks scrumhalf TJ Perenara said on Sunday morning that he “expected” a performance like that from Mo’unga, after seeing what he’s done for both the Crusaders and at training. He added that while watching the flyhalf’s performance, that he couldn’t help but think “man, that’s a bad man out there.”
Mo’unga’s showing of skill, patience and class definitely turned heads, with fans on Twitter singing the praises of the All Blacks pivot.
Initially thought he struggled to take the Crusaders form to the All Blacks… banished any doubts with this masterclass??????????
— Phuti Pooe (@P1Savage) November 1, 2020
I have to agree Richie stepped up in game 3. 1 & 2 he was still sleeping. Just when we needed everyone to be at their best and they delivered. We’ll done all round
— Eric Chow (@tawaniwai) November 1, 2020
Outstanding performance. A joy to watch.
— ODC ??????????? (@odcous2019) November 1, 2020
He was brilliant??
— Mark Muchai (@Muchaiki) November 1, 2020
Richie Mo’unga is the most talented and best performing rugby player in the world today ??
— ChiWAP-onised Dark Force ?? (@Dangurangu) October 31, 2020
Richie Mo’unga seems to have landed the lead role in A Perfect 10 the sequel. pic.twitter.com/muxKyKRy3J
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) October 31, 2020
Could watch Richie Mo’unga play rugby all day, quality player.
— Ross Jones (@RossJones1992) October 31, 2020
This Richie Mo’Unga is some player! @AllBlacks looking very strong! #BledisloeCup
— Mark Rogers (@markarogers) October 31, 2020
Richie Mo’unga really is something else ?@AllBlacks
— David Owen (@DavidOwen10) October 31, 2020
Richie Mo’unga ????? 5 Star performance ??? what a player he has been in 2020 ?? he just keeps doing his thing ????? Super Player
— Maorio ? (@Doc_Torio) October 31, 2020
This is the Richie Mo’unga we’ve been wanted to see in a black jersey!!! ??? https://t.co/MUqaLcKUau
— James?? (@CFCJames56) November 1, 2020
If I was making a best XV michael Hooper would be the first name on my team sheet. Class act.
Seems like richie mo’unga might be getting on there too!
— Matt ??????? (@MattsWanderings) October 31, 2020
Richie Mo’unga is making the @wallabies look like the local U14’s#AUSvNZL
— Kephren Izzard (@KephIzzard) October 31, 2020
Shades of Dan Carter there from Richie Mo’unga. #BledisloeCup
— Sam Hill (@5amHill) October 31, 2020
Mo’unga’s Player of the Match performance also reignites the debate surrounding the dual playmaker strategy that the All Blacks have adopted.
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Beauden Barrett, who won two World Rugby Player of the Year titles at flyhalf, was switched to fullback in an effort to accommodate Mo’unga in the All Blacks starting side.
Barrett was phenomenal in Bledisloe II, but was kept quiet two weeks later in Sydney, held to just 15 run metres. The two did link up for Mo’unga’s second try though, with Barrett placing a nicely weighted chip kick in behind the Wallabies defensive line for his flyhalf to chase.
Mo’unga stepped up and controlled the All Blacks attack while the hosts managed Barrett, which as fans on Twitter have suggested, bodes well for the future of the tactic.
Prefer “twin playmakers”. Interesting that this lead to Mo’unga attacking running game featuring. Richie’s try from the chip was a sublime bit of play, and how fitting that Beauden was on his shoulder as he ran to score.
— Aidan (@allsumnull) October 31, 2020
Switching the best 10 in the world to 15 to make room for this guy? pic.twitter.com/0GS54LK58r
— Steve Raymond (@steveray) November 1, 2020
Even in the face of Barrett (arguably the most gifted player for a generation) – Richie Mo’unga has cemented himself as the standalone 10 in world rugby.
Incredible.
— Jake Kane (@JakeKane2) October 31, 2020
When Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett are clicking you can’t make any mistakes. And the Wallabies have made plenty. Kind of a tough match to watch.
— Stuart Penninger (@StairmasterStu) October 31, 2020
The All Blacks take on the Wallabies for the fourth and final time this year in Brisbane this Saturday, with the Bledisloe Cup already locked up.
The clash will also serve as the second Tri Nations fixture, with that silverware still up for grabs. Both teams are set to face Argentina in the weeks following Bledisloe IV.
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments