Ex-All Black Evans gives Hansen advice on handling of Mo'unga
Former All Black number 10 Nick Evans wants the Richie Mo’unga to be given the chance to prove he could lead New Zealand to World Cup glory in Japan by being thrown into meaningful Rugby Championship matches ahead of Beauden Barrett.
Evans knows all about the pressures created by competition for the playmaker role in the best team in the world having shadowed Dan Carter during his career. Evans sees Barrett as the number one choice, but understands why Mo’unga has so much support after his Super Rugby heroics and wants to see the Crusaders outside half given significant game time in matches that really matter during the Championship.
He explained: “Beauden will go into the World Cup as first choice number 10 and is the best in the world and I want to see Richie controlling a Test – not given a chance in a match that is basically a dead rubber. Let’s put him into a situation where he needs to play well and if Beauden does get injured you need to know the next in line can win you the World Cup.
“It is true that Richie may not make the 23 if Beauden starts, but he was fantastic for the Crusaders and I would give him a chance early in the Rugby Championship. It is important for the All Blacks group to see him getting the team over the line in a Test match and there is a case for putting Richie in for the first two Tests to give Beauden a kick up the bum.
“Going into a World Cup you need to know where you stand and in 2007 I knew that Carter was the number one and whenever I got my opportunity I had to make sure I helped the team and you cannot be sulking or negative.”
Wallaby legend Michael Lynagh believes New Zealand should pick Mo’unga at 10 for Saturday’s clash with Australia, but expects the mercurial Crusaders playmaker to be left out of the All Blacks Bledisloe Cup match squad.
Lynagh is a big fan of Mo’unga who masterminded the Crusaders’ Super Rugby title triumph and insists he should be picked ahead of Barrett for the opening Rugby Championship battle with the Wallabies in Sydney. However, Lynagh recognises the All Blacks need to immediately stamp their authority on the Championship and that means sticking to the tried and tested Barrett with Mo’unga missing out on a place in the match 23 as Damian McKenzie, would then cover No10 and full back on the bench.
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Lynagh, who won 72 caps for Australia and lifted the 1991 World Cup, explained: “Richie Mo’unga played really well in both the Super Rugby semi-final and the final and is the form No10, but if Beauden gets picked to start then I don’t see Richie making the 23. Beauden has a bit of currency in the bank and it would be a very brave move for New Zealand to change their number 10 straight up from a winning formula.
“What Damian McKenzie has shown is that he is the Beauden Barrett of a few years ago and makes a huge difference whenever he comes on and can cover 10 and 15. I just feel that if Mo’unga doesn’t start then he won’t get into the match 23. The fact is that New Zealand have three number 10’s that most countries would be picking and you could start with Mo’unga and bring Barrett off the bench or start him at 15 with McKenzie on the bench. It’s an embarrassment of riches and because Barrett has the runs on the board he probably deserves a first shot at it. I am sure that Richie will get his chance in the Championship.”
Lynagh views Saturday’s match as an opportunity for Australia to strike a blow for the whole game and while he doesn’t agree with scrum half Will Genia’s assertion that it’s bigger than the World Cup, he recognises the significance of the clash.
Lynagh added: “The Bledisloe Cup isn’t as big as the World Cup but it is the next game that Australia play therefore it is the biggest. There is an enormous amount of pressure on Australia to beat New Zealand and Genia’s comment highlights that fact. I am sure the rest of the rugby World is saying “ come on Australia, do us all a favour and show that the All Blacks are beatable”. It would give everyone hope going into the World Cup and this really is a big game for Australia.
“You get the sense that Australian rugby is on an upward curve but I am not saying we are going to suddenly be World beaters but we are on the up heading into the World Cup with 12 months to go. It would be great to win the first up match with the All Blacks and it is probably our best chance of defeating them. If we don’t it’s not the end of the World and I just hope it’s not like last year when we were 40 points down in the Bledisloe Cup opener at half time.
“I really hope we are in a better situation this time or else we will be 40 points down at the break again!”
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Comments on RugbyPass
9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to comments