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.
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.
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 NZ (@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.
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
— The Bulldozer (@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 (@marchintonnz) 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
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments