George Moala leaves New Zealand with more questions than answers
The end of George Moala’s career in New Zealand leaves fans with a few loose ends that unfortunately won’t be tied up.
Ruled out for the year with a chest injury suffered in week eight of the Super Rugby season, Moala’s absence has largely flown under the radar.
While Jerome Kaino, rightly, received heaped praise last weekend when he walked off Eden Park for the final time, Moala wasn’t treated with the same esteem.
Unlike Kaino’s final effort in Auckland, the closing moments of Moala’s Blues career came with a whimper instead of a bang when he sustained the chest injury that would end his season at FMG Stadium Waikato, almost two hours from Eden Park.
The four-Test All Black and 74-time Blue has long been a polarizing figure in New Zealand rugby, and leaves for France having never really found his place or completely fulfilling his potential at the next level.
What separated Moala – when at the peak of his powers – was simply the way in which he played the game. No matter where he was playing, he only had one gear. He seemed to beat someone with each thunderous carry, often running around, but more frequently running over the opposition. An unstoppable force close to the line, the big back transformed his body into a battering ram as he barreled downfield on a weekly basis.
Though the eventual trajectory of his career – especially as a midfielder – may have been hampered by his limited distribution ability and tendency to play a one-dimensional style, it is impossible to deny Moala’s pure talent on the rugby field – and he will continue to display that talent when he joins Top 14 side Clermont next season.
The 27-year-old’s career path has been just as turbulent as his play on the field.
After rising through the ranks in the Auckland schoolboy scene while at Tamaki College, a rat-tailed 20-year-old Moala made his provincial debut for his home city in 2011. He would ultimately notch over 50 caps in the white and blue hoops of Auckland, today a rare feat for players of his calibre.
One year later, a pre-season shoulder injury looked to have ended Moala’s debut Super Rugby season before it began, but he came back and forced his way onto the field. He was a standout on the wing in his four appearances and later earned the nickname ‘Silverback’, due to his incredible strength showcased all over the park and on both sides of the ball.
Over the next two seasons Moala emerged as a genuine force in Super Rugby, crossing for ten tries and establishing himself as a regular fixture in John Kirwan’s backline as he covered the wing and both midfield positions.
Moala’s versatility may have ultimately been his downfall, as he failed to nail down a permanent home in the backline under the tutelage of three different coaches while with the Blues.
Regardless, Super Rugby and provincial form – he scored 21 tries in 32 games for Auckland between 2014 and 2016 – saw Moala earn his first All Blacks cap in July 2015. He scored the All Blacks’ lone try and kept Alesana Tuilagi in check on debut against Samoa, starting on the right wing for the national side just two months after he was discharged without conviction for his role in a late-night fight on Karangahape Road in 2012.
After missing out on a World Cup spot later that year, 2016 presented Moala with his best chance to cement himself in the All Black frame, with the midfield opening up following the departures of longtime occupants Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu.
Unfortunately, fans and selectors can only rue what could have been as form abandoned Moala. Tana Umaga dropped him in favour of Piers Francis while the combination of Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty locked down Steve Hansen’s vacant All Black midfield.
Moala would end up making his final three appearances for the All Blacks in 2016 – including a start against Wales after not being named in the initial squad – as the later emergence of young talent in the form of a well-rounded Anton Lienert-Brown, an explosive Ngani Laumape and a midfield savant in Jack Goodhue all but assured the end of his international playing days. His final international cap was a try-scoring effort in the All Blacks’ historic loss against Ireland in Chicago.
This year Moala managed just five appearances for the Blues, his fewest since his debut season. Once again he found himself in and out of Tana Umaga’s matchday side and unable to make his usual impact thanks to a constant reshuffling of personnel and a drop in form.
Though Moala’s swansong was far from a fairytale – as inconsistent performance and injury haven’t allowed him to leave New Zealand on his own terms – it’s without doubt that he leaves having made a lasting impact on Auckland rugby, regardless of whether he reached his full potential or not.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments