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Fans lavish praise on Crusaders pivot Richie Mo'unga for stealing the show with virtuoso performance
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. The Blues took an early lead in Saturday night’s top-of-the-table clash against the Crusaders but it was Crusaders pivot Richie Mo’unga who ensured the home side stole momentum back in the second half and emerged victorious.
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Two penalty kicks from Mo’unga in the second quarter of the game ensured that the Crusaders were on near-equal pegging with the visitors going into the break after Mark Telea scored an early try for the Blues. The Blues’ second try came via Rieko Ioane in the second half and the Crusaders were in very real danger of losing their 35-match winning streak at home but, as if a fire were suddenly lit in Mo’unga’s belly, the first five’s game came alive.
First, the flyhalf kicked a relatively straightforward penalty after the Blues infringed inside their own 22. Then, Mo’unga really took his game to the next level.
From the restart, Mo’unga audaciously nudged a short, skidding drop-kick forward 10 metres and scooped it up to set up a Crusaders attack. It was as creative as it was potentially self-destructive but the move came off perfectly, and social media lit up with praise for the All Blacks first five.
Richie Mo’unga just changed the game #CRUvBLU
— Andrew Gourdie (@AndrewGourdie) July 11, 2020
And Richie Mo’unga’s restart.
Confidence, confidence, confidence.
— The Loose Head (@TheLooseH) July 11, 2020
Richie Mo’unga that is outrageous!! #CRUvBLU #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Gareth Morgan (@Morgy1312) July 11, 2020
Amazingly quick thinking from Richie Mo'unga. We've a proper game here. #CRUvBLU #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Ross Barnett (@rbarnett08) July 11, 2020
While the ridiculous play handed the Crusaders possession deep inside Blues territory, the defending Super Rugby champions weren’t able to convert the pressure into points. Regardless, it sent a strong message to the visiting side that if they turned off for even a second, the Crusaders would pounce – and pounce they did.
Minutes later, Mo’unga sparked the attack that handed the lead back to the Crusaders through some perfect pivot skills.
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Entering the final quarter of the game, with the Blues ahead 15-9, the Crusaders had possession on the Blues’ 22-metre line. The Blues defence was holding strong as the Crusaders threw forward after forward at the waiting Blues blockers – then stepped up Mo’unga.
The Crusaders playmaker pumped the ball twice, drawing up the Blues defenders, then delivered a perfectly placed pass out to George Bridge, in space out on the wing. Bridge scooted around the defence then sent the pass back into reserve halfback Mitch Drummond who dived over for a try.
? The @crusadersrugby take the lead!
Flick over to @skysportnz now!#CRUvBLU pic.twitter.com/mTRQDN2Yvt
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) July 11, 2020
If the courageous kick-off was the cake then his excellent pass was the icing and cherry on top and it spurred the Crusaders on for their eventual 26-15 win.
Unsurprisingly, Twitter was alight with praise for Richie Mo’unga’s excellent late-game performance.
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Richie Mo’unga thinks to himself:
“60 minutes gone, probably time for me to totally take control of this game, maybe?
Aye, why not?” #CRUvBLU
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) July 11, 2020
Fully enjoyed Richie Mo'unga going: "f**k it, I'll do it myself" #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CRUvBLU
— Abdullah Mahmood (@AbbyDno7) July 11, 2020
Richie Mo’unga a genius that dares to do the impossible. #CRUvBLU
— KINGPROKID (@MazwiZuma) July 11, 2020
Crusaders are such a big game team! That try was all Richie Mo'unga. He's been the best player on the field this 2nd half after a dodgy 1st 40.
— Thala Msutu (@ThalaMsutu77) July 11, 2020
Well done Crusaders. Fabulous display to take Blues’ best shots and finish over the top. Absolute masterclass from Richie Mo’unga, who put to bed any debate about black No10 jersey. #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Marc Hinton (@marchintonffx) July 11, 2020
I’m so sick of saying it* but Richie Mo’Unga is so much better at rugby union than Beauden Barrett and it makes me so happy every time he proves that point.
*I’m not sick of saying it, I fucking love pointing it out.
— Louis Herman-Watt (@LouisHWatt) July 11, 2020
How great was Richie Mo'unga tonight. Hehe had that hook kick panned out. OUTRAGEOUS
— Patman (@PatOyugi) July 11, 2020
Richie Mo’unga, the best No10 in NZ by far, as if there was any doubt. #CRUvBLU
— Patrick McKendry (@patmck6) July 11, 2020
Richie Mo'unga what a final 30 minutes. Turned that game on its head. Third or forth best 10 in world rugby.
— Kwizera (@TherealKwizera) July 11, 2020
The Crusaders’ win puts them on top of the Super Rugby Aotearoa table ahead of their bye next weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
7 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
72 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
19 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
7 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
19 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
19 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
19 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
2 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
19 Go to comments