Opinion: New All Black Mo'unga is a kick in the balls to Australia and the rest
Richie Mo’unga today became the latest in a long line of Canterbury fly-halves to gain an All Blacks call-up, following in the footsteps of Mehrtens, Mauger and Carter. Mo’unga’s selection serves as yet another reminder of the incredible depth in New Zealand rugby and as a kick in the balls to international challengers and modern-era battlers like Australia.
It was only two short years ago that kiwi rugby fans were preparing to say au revoir to the best number 10 in the world, wondering whether super-sub Beauden Barrett could stamp a permanent place in the starting jersey let alone ever living up to those giddy standards. At the same time, Aaron Cruden was on the way out and Lima Sopoaga was battling form and injury. Many All Blacks fans and pundits approached the 2016 season with trepidation, while international rivals salivated at the prospect of a Carter-less All Blacks side.
Fast-forward to 2017 and it is a vastly different scenario. Beauden Barrett is the world’s standout fly-half and his younger brother Jordie, a better goal-kicker, was unbelievably hot on his heels before being struck down by injury earlier this year. Sopoaga also found some form in Super Rugby and earned a recall, while Damian Mckenzie, a revelation in Cape Town, is well-known to prefer the number 10 jersey to fullback. Add Mo’unga to the mix and it looks like the All Blacks are just having a laugh at World Rugby’s expense.
Eligibility aside, any one of these recent All Blacks could walk into the starting line-up of virtually any international side, bar England and possibly Ireland. Never has one rugby-playing nation possessed such wealth at such a pivotal position.
What Wallabies coach Michael Cheika wouldn’t do to have a player of Richie Mo’unga’s quality on his bench as his side seek to salvage a bit of trans-Tasman pride this weekend. Instead, he is reliant on the solid-yet-unexceptional talents of Bernard Foley and the ever-lingering-but-gradually-fading potential of Quade Cooper to try and salvage Australian rugby dignity.
And while Owen Farrell and Jonny Sexton have been the only players of note to undo the All Blacks in the past 18 months, they will increasingly need to be shielded to avoid injuries that would expose the lack of depth that both England and Ireland have at fly-half.
It is no secret that All Blacks coach Steve Hansen places a huge emphasis on succession planning, with a Japan 2019 three-peat still the top priority for an expectant New Zealand rugby community. Hansen and the NZRU have moved early to lock in key backbone players (See: Key All Black re-signs till 2021) and blood the future crop of Carters and McCaws (See: Lienert-Brown, Harris re-sign with All Blacks).
With injury always a risk for such a key position, the selection of Mo’unga is a master-stroke from a coach looking to secure the widest possible talent pool for his 2019 squad and, in particular, avoid the risk of these sorts of players giving up early on New Zealand to cash in overseas.
NEWS | Richie Mo'unga called into #AllBlacks squad for third #BledisloeCup Test.
READ: https://t.co/0a8nvVfeXE pic.twitter.com/ZNxASQhChh
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 16, 2017
Recent footage from the New Zealand Schoolboys team provides a further kick to the Australian Rugby Union and other nations waiting patiently for an end to All Black dominance, with Aaron Cruden’s younger brother displaying some characteristic skills against a player many are touting as “the Barrett clone”.
FOLLOW THIS WEEKEND’S BLEDISLOE CUP FINALE LIVE ON THE RUGBYPASS.COM MATCH CENTRE.
FANS IN ASIA CAN CATCH EVERY MINUTE OF ALL BLACKS, WALLABIES AND OTHER GLOBAL RUGBY ACTION LIVE AND ON-DEMAND AT RUGBYPASS.COM. SIGN UP NOW: https://www.rugbypass.com/signup
The full All Blacks squad for this Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup match is:
Forwards: Wyatt Crockett, Kane Hames, Nepo Laulala, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire and Matt Todd.
Backs: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Lima Sopoaga, Ryan Crotty, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, David Havili and Damian McKenzie.
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour 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.
16 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.
2 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 comments