Let's hope that Richie Mo’unga wasn't serious about the All Blacks
You hope that Richie Mo’unga was just being polite.
That in being interviewed by local media, upon his arrival in Japan to play for Toshiba Brave Lupus, he wanted to show the local audience his intentions are good.
That he’s not just there for the, reported, $2 million per season in cash. That he’s genuinely enthused to play in League One and not already thinking of an exit strategy.
You hope that.
Because, without Mo’unga, the cupboard of competent first five-eighths' back here in New Zealand is pretty bare.
Look, new players always emerge.
I always think back to 2015 and guys like McCaw, Carter, Smith, Woodcock, Mealamu and Nonu hanging up their All Blacks jumpers. I recall the comments that the team would go to hell in a hat, only to prove just about unbeatable in 2016.
But I can’t imagine for a second that, given their reportedly close relationship and enormous success together, new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson isn’t regularly in Mo’unga’s ear.
Again, I hope that.
I’m about as enthusiastic a Beauden Barrett supporter as you’ll find, but I want to see what Mo’unga can do for the All Blacks without him.
I don’t think their shared presence has enhanced the career of either of them. On that basis, I’ve argued for one or the other to be left to run the team in peace.
After a while I didn’t even care which one. I just thought the All Blacks needed one game-driver and not two.
Life in a foreign country isn’t always as much fun for wives and children as it is for the player. Sure, the money’s good and the lifestyle novel for a bit, but families need support.
The 29-year-old Mo’unga can say that he wants to play out his rugby days in Japan, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
I applaud him for making the right noises and for telling his new Japanese employers and fanbase that he’s committed to Toshiba and enthused by the competition. That he sees his game growing in this exciting new environment and can’t wait to achieve success.
But I think the best of Mo’unga as an All Black is still ahead of him and that Robertson has always been the coach who’s fostered his talents most.
So I hope this was just paper talk. That Mo’unga still harbours All Black ambitions and that, in concert with Robertson, he does eventually make the same mark on test footy that he has on Super Rugby.
I wish him and his family well in Japan, but I sincerely hope he’s back playing on these shores before too long.
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What drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
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