'Steph Curry for us': Richie Mo'unga compared to NBA superstar by Robertson
Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson reserved high praise for his star first five after the Crusaders upset the Blues 21-7 in the Super Rugby Pacific final at Eden Park.
Whilst it was up front at set-piece time that spoiled the Blues’ possessions, it was the Crusaders’ game drivers that piled on the pressure with smart tactical kicks to keep the Blues pinned down inside their own half for large portions of the game.
Two thirds of the Crusaders’ kicks on the night were either contestable or attacking, grubbers, chips or cross-field kicks, which constantly put the Blues backfield under pressure on a wet night with a slippery surface.
That strategy paid off in the final moments when Sevu Reece scooped up a grubber kick from Pablo Matera after the Blues failed to secure the bouncing ball in the backfield. Reece’s try all but sealed the game with five minutes remaining.
Roberston compared Richie Mo’unga to NBA superstar ‘Steph Curry’ and labelled him as a ‘franchise quarterback’ for his ability to run the game and control proceedings around the park.
“That first 50 minutes, my lord, we lost our way a little bit after that, but the pressure that we wanted to put on the Blues, it happened,” Robertson said on Sky Sport NZ‘s post-match interview.
“Richie Mo, franchise quarterback, what a player. He’s Steph Curry for us, we just love him and we just stood up again like he has in the last six finals.
“We were just pleased we could put our whole full team out. To get a result like that, it’s special.”
When asked if the tactical kicking against the Blues was a part of the game plan, first five Richie Mo’unga admitted that wasn’t but that the backs played what was in front of them and kicked when necessary.
Mo’unga said the Crusaders wanted to play a high-tempo game and play with freedom in the quest to capture their six straight title.
“To be honest it wasn’t [the plan],” Mo’unga revealed.
“It was set to play. There were times and passages in that first half where we moved the ball side-to-side, really put them under pressure.
“As backs, we just saw space and attacked. Coming into this game, we wanted to have the freedom to unleash the shackles, not be pressured by the occasion, just play heads-up footy and that’s what we do as Crusaders.”
The pressure game applied by the Crusaders started with the line out, an area that Robertson admitted his side had deliberately targetted.
Blues hooker Kurt Eklund struggled to hit his targets on what seemed like a malfunctioning line out operation. At times, the Blues struggled to get jumpers in the air or tried the overthrow option to no avail.
The Blues completed just 47 per cent of their throws compared to their season average of 77 per cent, indicating just how much influence the Crusaders had over their set-piece.
“Yeah it was,” Robertson said on whether they were out to target the Blues line out.
“We wanted to put pressure on Eklund and get up in front, we knew they slow down their calls now and again.
“We wanted pressure straight away from the first line out. We kicked off first and had the wind so that was a big call, and they just didn’t get out of their half for a long period of time.
“We won a lot of hard balls. I’m just so proud, it’s pretty special to do it here at the Garden.”
Richie Mo’unga described the win as ‘special’ after having ‘backs against the wall’. The Crusaders lost to the Blues at home 27-23 in a pivotal clash earlier in the season that handed home ground advantage to the Auckland-based franchise.
Armed with a point to prove in the final following the round robin loss, Mo’unga said that is when the Crusaders play at their best.
“It’s just special. Put everything into a season, set our goal at the start to win six in a row, and to achieve it here in Auckland, it’s just special,” he said.
“Of course, they got one over us during the round robin but we just wanted to embrace this feeling, coming up here, backs against the wall and that’s when we perform at our best.
“Backs against the wall, something to prove, come up here to the City of Sails, I’m just stoked.”
With six Super Rugby titles in six years, Mo’unga was reluctant to call this one the sweetest of the lot, instead indicating that he is not done winning titles in Christchurch after signing on for one more year in 2023.
“The next one is the sweetest,” Mo’unga said.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments