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Mo'unga vs Sexton: 'A true honour and privilege to match up against him'
There will be no shortage of blockbuster matchups when the All Blacks and Ireland take to the Stade de France field in what promises to be an all-time classic Rugby World Cup quarter-final this weekend.
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Earlier in the week, Ireland named a matchday 23 oozing with the kind of power and class that have propelled the nation to world rugby’s No 1 ranked team, surviving multiple injury scares from round five’s Scotland Test.
The All Blacks have replied in kind, naming a team packed with explosive talent, with just one departure from the expected starting XV as Leicester Fainga’anuku steps in for the stood-down Mark Telea.
Across the park, the matchups are mouth-watering, perhaps none more so than at first five-eighth.
Driving their respective teams around the park under the bright lights of Paris will be two of the rugby world’s master tacticians; Richie Mo’unga and Johnny Sexton.
Both players have a wealth of winning experience for club and country, but neither has touched the field in a Rugby World Cup final.
Fronting media after the All Blacks’ team naming, Mo’unga shared his admiration for his opposite.
“Johnny is all class, he’s a true director of his team,” he said. “Everything goes through Johnny.
“The way he’s able to play and be so consistent at the top level, he’s really transcended what it’s like to play as a first-five, fly-half.
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“Yeah, it’s just a true honour and privilege to match up against him. It’s really cool. For someone from the other side of the world, it’s really exciting.”
Both teams have been ruthless in breaking down their opponent’s defence so far in the tournament, comfortably claiming the most points in their respective pools.
The knockout stages promise a very different challenge though, and Ireland’s defence in particular has proven a tough nut to crack. Andy Farrell’s men haven’t conceded more than 17 points all year and have only twice conceded more than 20 points during their current 17-game win streak.
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The match that preceded that win streak though was a 42-19 win to the All Blacks in the first Test of the historic Steinlager Series, which Ireland would go on to win.
Mo’unga was not employed as the preferred first five-eighth in that series, so will lead a refreshed attack against the Irish wall.
“Yeah, that’s a huge task. It starts up front, ball carrying and momentum, winning the speed of the ruck, making that ball as quick as we can.
“We’ve got to play eyes-up footy but do the basics really well to challenge these guys. If we can do that, we can get inroads and hopefully get awarded some penalties around the ruck.”
That new attack is orchestrated by former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt. The coach joined Ian Foster’s staff after the Steinlager Series loss and has implemented new tactics to break down aggressive defensive lines, like that of the Irish.
Despite Schmidt’s relatively recent involvement in the Irish camp, the Irish players have insisted there are no tactical insights the coach could bring to the New Zealand scouting report, claiming a completely overhauled system under new coach Andy Farrell.
The All Blacks camp has been queried on the influence Schmidt has had in preparations for the do-or-die Test, but has consistently answered by pointing out the coach’s influence since joining the team in general.
“It’s been really great to have him in. He really is just a true passionate man of the game of rugby.
“You know, you get caught in the hallways talking code with him and you could be there a fair while. You’ve got to just turn your head the other way sometimes, try and avoid that,” Mo’unga joked.
“Nah, he’s awesome, the different perspective of footy he has. I would say that perspective is real basic, and the things that make a team tick really well.
“There’s been a few times too, you know, you’ve seen an angry Joe Schmidt as well, which has been pretty cool.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to comments