'He knows who he is in an All Black jersey now': Richie Mo'unga living up to his promise
Richie Mo’unga’s Super Rugby career may lay claim to being the greatest in history but the seven-time champion has struggled to truly find his feet on the international stage since his debut in 2018.
Mo’unga started in the No 10 jersey for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in a dual-pivot role with Beaduen Barrett starting at fullback, an experiment that failed to fire under Sir Steve Hansen against the new wave of rush defence.
In the years following, despite his continued success in Super Rugby, Mo’unga’s starting role at the next level wasn’t guaranteed but instead subject to a debate that split All Blacks supporters for the most part of Ian Foster’s head coaching tenure. Neither player managed to lock the jersey down.
Beauden Barrett started the first four Tests of 2022 before being shifted back to the No 15 jersey to make way for Mo’unga, where the two have remained since.
In 2023, fans have finally seen a chemistry between the two playmakers that appears to be bringing the best out of each player’s skillset for the first time.
Barrett’s vision allows him to inject his attacking game at opportune moments while offering the defensive line a master communicator. Meanwhile, Mo’unga has the keys to the attack and thrives on the unpredictability of the game plan.
It’s a combination that many fans thought may never flourish, especially when both players were struggling to play behind a struggling pack.
But today, there is little doubt remaining over the selection, Richie Mo’unga has grown into the All Blacks No 10 jersey. Saturday’s match-winning penalty kick was only further evidence the 29-year-old is finally ready for the greatest challenges in rugby.
“Being a leader of this environment was hard to begin with,” Mo’unga said prior to The Rugby Championship. “Wearing the 10 jersey and being a pivot in the All Blacks demands that you are a leader and I think when I first came in I wasn’t ready for that or I didn’t have the confidence.
“But I think I’m, more than ever, ready to own that role and take charge if the team needs me to take charge, and just really understand what our team is trying to achieve so I can help the team do that.”
The kick completed a 20-point comeback that extended the All Blacks’ unbeaten run to 11 games.
One of the enduring points in the Mo’unga vs Barrett debate was the need to pick a player and stick with him in order for the player’s confidence and chemistry in the backline to have any chance of thriving.
Pundits suggest the end of the debate has offered Mo’unga the license to truly be himself and find his feet on the field. What impressed former All Black Jeff Wilson the most was Mo’unga’s comments after the match.
“You want your best players to step up in the biggest moments and he said some wonderful things after the game,” Wilson told The Breakdown. “His expectation was that he was entirely comfortable with this responsibility, he felt it was going to go over. That’s his job and he knows his job.
“But we’re seeing a confidence out of this young man now as a player in 2023, I don’t think we’ve seen ever in an All Black jersey. For him to come on and to not just make this kick, but to drive the team back to a point where they could win, the decision-making before that, the way they started controlling territory and they kept building momentum.
“I just think he knows who he is in an All Black jersey now. We talked about this all season, about the keys to the car and he owns those now. He is completely comfortable with that.
“I’m just bitterly disappointed that we’re not going to see it after this Rugby World Cup and it’s heading offshore.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Now if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful 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!
5 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 …
33 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.
5 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!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to comments