Fans call for Richie Mo'unga to start at 10 for All Blacks following masterclass performance against Bulls
Crusaders first-five Richie Mo’unga has sent fans into raptures on social media with a sensational outing during his side’s 45-13 thrashing of the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday.
Mo’unga was again in sublime form for the reigning back-to-back Super Rugby champions, scoring two tries, assisting a third, running for 98 metres and beating four defenders from two clean breaks, and converting five from six kicks at goal.
His running game was a particular highlight, with the second of his two tries coming from a clean break after a taking the ball to the line and fooling the opposition defence with a dummy on the Bulls’ 10 metre mark.
A wicked step past the flailing defensive effort of Cornal Hendricks on the 22 metre mark was enough to see him score under the posts, despite a late tackle attempt from Divan Rossouw.
Mo’unga’s kicking ability was also lauded by fans online, with the 24-year-old completing two pinpoint cross kicks in consecutive phases to assist the third of Sevu Reece’s tries.
So good was his form in his side’s win that many took to Twitter to express their admiration for the nine-test All Black’s performance, with some suggesting that he deserves the starting first-five jersey over the incumbent and two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett.
#BulvCru Richie Mo'unga emphasizing his quality as the best first five eighth/flyhalf in the world with an excellent performance against the Bulls.
— steve (@honesttruth08) May 10, 2019
Richie Mo’unga has the ball on a god damn string! Are you kidding me with those two cross field kicks???? How is this guy not your ABs starting 10 at this stage. Especially with the outside backs equation, surely BB goes to fullback. #BULvCRU
— Louis Herman-Watt (@LouisHWatt) May 10, 2019
Richie Mo'unga is brilliant. There's no arguing against that fact. #BULvCRU
— Emily (@TheEmilyM) May 10, 2019
The coach should send Pollard a notebook and a pen in case he forgets all the lessons his getting from Richie Mo'unga…Crusaders can invoice after the game. #ssrugby #BullsFamily#BULvCRU
— Amos (@amos_boltman) May 10, 2019
Honestly, the Crusaders with Richie Mo'unga. ? #BULvCRU #SuperRugby
— alex (@popcorntrolley) May 10, 2019
Mo’unga wasn’t the only player that impressed onlookers from that clash, with hat-trick hero Reece enhancing his credentials as a potential bolter in the All Blacks‘ World Cup squad with another standout display on the right wing.
The 22-year-old’s three tries means his personal tally of tries this season stands at nine, elevating him to second in this season’s Super Rugby try-scoring charts, trailing only Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga’a, who has 10.
https://twitter.com/mossie90/status/1126920442420387842
Sevu Reece is the best Winger in the Super Rugby right now #BULvCRU
— Qlemy? (@NjaNja_herdboy) May 10, 2019
I’ll keep bragging up SEVU REECE… 3 tries away from home, he just keeps on scoring!!! He must be on that plane to @rugbyworldcup he has that WOW factor @AllBlacks #BULvCRU
— Christopher Logan (@CLCourtney82) May 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/KoppeStamp06/status/1126914836015849473
https://twitter.com/jabba_the_hutts/status/1126953211661709312
The victory keeps the Crusaders at the summit of the Super Rugby standings with 47 points from 12 matches, seven points clear of the next closest team, the Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, the Bulls remain at the top of the South African conference and sit in third spot on the overall table with 28 points, but could be overtaken by the Sharks and/or Jaguares in their conference should either or both sides secure victory this weekend.
The Short Ball:
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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 👍
1 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 commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments