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Ex-All Black captain Read takes aim at NZR over Mo'unga situation

Kieran Read of New Zealand leads his players as they perform the haka prior to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Bronze Final match between New Zealand and Wales at Tokyo Stadium on November 01, 2019 in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
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88 Comments

Former All Black captain Kieran Read has sounded off at New Zealand Rugby over the handling of Richie Mo’unga’s eligibility.

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New head coach Dave Rennie confirmed recently that no exemption has been given for Mo’unga, who signed a non-sabbatical contract to play in Japan for the last three years. New CEO Lancaster reiterated the decision.

Ex-captain Read couldn’t understand the decision when the ability to grant exemptions and change rules lies with NZR itself.

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Read’s long-time Crusaders teammate Matt Todd was given an exemption to play for the All Blacks on the 2018 Northern Tour, where he played against England and Ireland.

“You’ve changed it before, the coach has literally said, ‘I’m gonna bring him into the squad so he can learn the moves’,” the former All Blacks captain told The Agenda podcast on the Alternative Commentary Collective.

“It’s like, well, why don’t we just let him [Mo’unga] play? If we know he’s going to be needed and he’s going to be so vital to us to be successful, he’s literally signed to New Zealand for the next 18 months.”

“It’s a little bit like they made the bed and they think they’ve got to sleep in it, but hey, you can change it, right? You can actually literally change the rules.

“Ardie [Savea] and Anton Lienert-Brown, who have been in Japan and supposedly it’s a sabbatical, they come straight in and play in July.

“I understand the reasoning around behind making guys want to stay in New Zealand, but the fact they’re back, he’s back in New Zealand and it would be a travesty if you’re running out in the first test against South Africa and Richie Mo’unga is playing here for Canterbury.

“It would mean no sense, it’d be ridiculous.”

 

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Comments

88 Comments
P
PB 16 days ago

Same motivation all Cape Crusaders offer. Oh just stop 🛑 Numpty! Nobody believes you care enough. If you were legitimately a Kiwi, they would collectively just pretend you don’t exist! An embarrassment. If you were a Saffa, someone would have rearranged your limbs for you by now!!

H
Hammer Head 16 days ago

You certainly are fixated with toilets. Were you born in one or conceived in one? I’m going to guess the latter.


Mommy issues.

P
PB 16 days ago

Lol, who cares! You are a loser! A dimwitted one, but a loser never the less

L
LondonAllBlack 17 days ago

Also, I don’t respect you. Let that sink in.

L
LondonAllBlack 17 days ago

I’ve heard this dumb argument before — accusing me of being South African. It’s incredibly stupid. If I were South African, wouldn’t I support the Springboks or South Africa? What would be the motivation for such a ridiculous lie?


Again, your country is a toilet masquerading as a country! Now, po!

P
PB 17 days ago

AB’s are our respected opponents, but seeing you are not a Kiwi, actually a Hottentot living in Gogo’s basement, how good is it to see Argentina smash the kiwis in Sevens? Blanked the Kiwis, looked like ten pin bowling, seeing the Kiwis getting bounced

L
LondonAllBlack 17 days ago

Go back to your toilet you pos!

P
PB 17 days ago

Who are you again?

L
LondonAllBlack 17 days ago

There is literally nothing to see in South Africa. The food is trash, reminds me of India, and the supposed wildlife safaris are available on TV with narration from David Attenborough. What else is there? Women? All cousin Dutch inbreds!


Why risk diarrhoea, houseplant personalities, and violence at an extraordinary price? Nah, I am good. You keep all that. I like my clean drinking water, electricity, and safety here in the West.


Now go back to your toilet masquerading as a country! You are not welcome here! This is a New Zealand rugby forum for New Zealanders and All Blacks rugby.

P
PB 26 days ago

You don’t understand most things dimwit! All you do is use AI to make up stories like a little child. Oh I do, and I take many tourists, even Kiwis and Aussies in safari. I know what they think of our beautiful country. You are just an ignorant little pompous turd, that has never been to South Africa, but you figure you are an expert. By the by, where do you actually live? Because you have a lot to say, but you don’t seem to be a Kiwi or live in NZ. So maybe a wannabe Kiwis because the Poms suck at rugby. In essence a coward! Or you are a Kiwi that ran away from NZ .

L
LondonAllBlack 26 days ago

South Africa has on average between 70 - 72 murders a day.


South Africa is 43% unemployed.


30% of South Africans do not have access to clean potable water.


The South African government is $350 - 400 billion dollars in debt. Around R6.1 trillion.


I can do this all day. Your country is a toilet masquerading as a country.


Also, calling me names in a different language is fail as I don't understand it and I am not going to Google it.


Also, the Springboks are team of drug cheats. Smoke and fire ? Yeah, if you understand what I mean.


So go watch your birds and whatever floats around in your toilet 🚻

P
PB 26 days ago

You have never been to my country you Wally! You are one of those ignoramus’ that think elephants walk in the streets and lions can gobble you up at night.


Maybe get out of your mommas basement or get an education (that might take years though).


I would rather live here and enjoy the wonderful weather, beautiful landscapes and amazing diversity of animal and bird life than in your dour cesspool.


You don’t even know which is your country. In the old days we called the Brits “soutpiele”

Think you are about in that category.

Claim to be a Kiwi, apparently born there 🤭 but then your nom de plume is London? Yeah, “ soutpiel” would be about right.


I am at least a South African, and proudly so, no identity crisis here.


Toodle off now. 😉

L
LondonAllBlack 26 days ago

The difference between you and me is that my country has electricity and clean drinking water, while your country is a toilet 🚻. Chew on that.

P
PB 26 days ago

You don’t speak for anyone, don’t presume to. Lol, despite all your brave words, you wish you had a URC to help your supposedly Kiwi rugby. Lol, you amused me to no end, but your delinquency is becoming tedious. Bye now Pommie

S
SB 29 days ago

“It would mean no sense, it’d be ridiculous.”

NZR’s entire business model.

B
BM 29 days ago

Where has Commonsence gone. Without Commonsense you cannot be a Leader.

B
B 29 days ago

On friday night Dave Rennie stated that 34 players had already been picked and it was just a matter of delete and add…(that interveiw was prior to Caleb Tangitau’s injury)…


He also wants players to show consistent repeat efforts and have the conditioning and skill sets in achieving that work rate which to me means current SRPacific form…

S
SC 29 days ago

The bottom line is this: Dave Rennie has made it very clear he wants Richie Mo’unga available for the South Africa tour and clearly has Mo’unga in his RWC plans.


NZR hired Rennie to win the RWC in 2027. So Rennie should, at the very least, be allowed to select any NZ contracted rugby player without any interference from his employers to achieve this.

R
Rodeo4 29 days ago

Ach NZRU make me sick. they want the brand to revitalize itself back to the ABs of yesteryear a dominant feared and respected Rugby Nation of old the respect is somewhat still there but fear Nnnope now new corporate pen-pusher Lancaster is no better than former corporate pen-pusher Mark Robinson we've finally got an astute HC and management in place and ud think if Rennie specifically requested certain off-shore players for good reason. Why destroy the idea NZRU dyou want to arm the ABs with every available tool to meet the challenges now and befor turning our attention towards the RWC summit or improvise from the base that hasn't changed since Sir Ed was around

L
LondonAllBlack 30 days ago

Rightly so Reado! Enough with the shenanigans!

J
JW 30 days ago

“It’s like, well, why don’t we just let him [Mo’unga] play?

Because then there’d be no point signing with NZR.


I’m not surprised this is coming from Read, he was one of the biggest names in the growing bunch of money drains on NZR, players like Beauden who had lost it and we impacting on the teams performance.


Previously greats would just call it, but no, these guys are now on soo much money with NZR it’s just a gravy train, especially when you’re old and injured often. Unfortunately with Read, he wasn’t for the ABs, so continued to stop anyone else from getting an opportunity.

W
Wayneo 30 days ago

Y’all getting your panties in a knot playing while knowing there is a back door open for RM to play in the Biltong vs. Marmite Bowl

T
The Answer 30 days ago

This outdated, amateurish policy is setting the All Blacks up to fail in South Africa.


We’ve already lost Williams, so the scrum is weakened. Retallick doesn’t want to tour South Africa for six weeks, meaning we lose our best lineout option and lock in general. And to top it off New Zealand Rugby has its blinkers on, denying our best fly-half the chance to even be selected.


Wonderful.


At this point, what’s the point of going? I know who I’ll be blaming if we get swept 4-0. Let that sink in for a minute.

P
PB 17 days ago

We understand life is tough living in Gogo’s basement in Kayelitsha. Yeah losers always look for something to blame. In your case being a mixed breed in SA carries it’s own stigma! Hence your little tirades.

J
JW 30 days ago

At this point, what’s the point of going?

No you need to ask yourself that Answer. If the All Blacks aren’t going to be the All Blacks, whats' the point in going?


You might as well stop all contests now, whats the point of waiting for the demise to play out? Retain or best record against the mighty team in world rugby, the Springbok. At least future generations could still look on the former national hero of a team with pride.


4-0 is meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

d
d 30 days ago

Firstly we have to establish that Mounga is indeed the best option.

j
johnz 30 days ago

He doesn’t have to be the best option. Even if he’s third best option - he should still go. Form and injuries will sort out the pecking order as the season rolls on.

T
The Economist 30 days ago

Agreed. But the same applies to Savea and Lienert-Brown.

B
Bazzallina 30 days ago

Don’t necessarily disagree with u Reado but they not supposedly on sabbatical they are on sabbatical there is a difference

J
JB 30 days ago

It’s only a difference because the NZRFU have invented a policy that makes no sense. RM is not the first effected and every time its shown to be a stupid no point policy.

c
cnw 30 days ago

Sure there is a difference but both will step off the plane in June contracted to play for NZ yet only one can. Cut, Nose, Spite and Face come to mind.

P
PickOllieMathisOrKeepLosing,Rob. 30 days ago

PREACH.

G
GP 30 days ago

Former Crusaders and All Black great Kieran Read is dead right. Richie Mo’unga should be fast tracked in to the All Blacks. He is playing great rugby and has been missed big time. I would love to Richie playing for Canterbury make no bone’s about it. But he is desperately needed in the All Blacks and it’s in a tour of South Africa.As article says Kieran Read’s fellow Crusaders great Matt Todd had an exemption made in 2018. Scott Robertson wanted Richie Mo’unga back and he should have got his way. Dave Rennie does now and he should be given his way.

c
cnw 30 days ago

Agree. DMac was knocked out cold last night and will need time to recover hopefully back to full fitness in time. But it shows we just don’t have the luxury of being pig headed about this against the No 1 team in the world - and let’s be honest they have won the last 5 of 6. Bring him into the fold now and if he is the best player, play him (though I want Love given a proper chance to show what he has got in July).

S
SouthernRuckby 30 days ago

Playing great Rugby? He’s been in Japan for three seasons, living the cushy life in an easier league. All of our players that go over to Japan are always worse upon their return.

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