Richie Mo'unga set to miss opening rounds of Super Rugby Pacific
All Blacks playmaker Richie Mo'unga is set to miss the opening rounds of next year's inaugural edition of Super Rugby Pacific.
Mo'unga has been pivotal for the Crusaders in their five title-winning campaigns in Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aotearoa since 2017 but may be unavailable for as many six of the franchise's first fixtures of the 2022 season.
That could leave the Crusaders without the 27-year-old for home matches against the Highlanders and Blues, away games against the Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika and Highlanders, and their Super Round clash against the Reds in Melbourne.
Just how many matches, if any, Mo'unga will sit out depends on how physically and mentally drained he feels following a lengthy spell away from home with the All Blacks.
Mo'unga has played nine tests for the All Blacks in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe this year and is currently in the midst of a nine-week stint abroad as part of the team's travel commitments amid Covid-19 restrictions.
A further two-week quarantine period upon the team's return to New Zealand will extend his stay away from his young family, although that could have been longer had he travelled with the All Blacks when they left for Australia for the Rugby Championship in August.
Instead, Mo'unga remained in New Zealand to attend the birth of his second child, but travelled to Queensland and undertook a two-week quarantine in the lead-up to their tournament-ending loss to the Springboks last month, which he featured in.
While New Zealand Rugby clarified that it wants all its franchise's All Blacks playing in Super Rugby Pacific to help boost the profile of the new-look competition, Mo'unga has a clause in his Crusaders contract that entitles him to an extended off-season.
Anticipating that he will exercise that right outlined in his contract, Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson says he will discuss Mo'unga's availability for next year once he returns from overseas in the coming weeks.
“It’s in his contract to have choices. Whether it’s two, four, six, or one week, they are conversations to be had,” Robertson told Stuff.
“It’s his call, but we will work through it. We'll see how many games he’s played, how he is feeling. Does he want to do something different for the pre-season to freshen up?”
Should he be without Mo'unga for an extended period, Robertson will be able to call upon the services of young prospect Fergus Burke and utility back David Havili, who guided the Crusaders to a win over the Chiefs from first-five last year.
It has also been reported that the Crusaders are expected to announce the signing of veteran playmaker Simon Hickey, formerly of the Blues and Hurricanes, when the New Zealand and Moana Pasifika Super Rugby squads are unveiled next Monday.
However, Robertson acknowledged the importance of having Mo'unga in his side's ranks as he targets a sixth piece of silverware in as many seasons during his time at the helm of the franchise.
“He’s a franchise quarterback, we know that,” Robertson said, as per Stuff. “But guys behind him are just going to have to stand up, and that’s the great thing about our club, players do that. It’s an opportunity for someone.”
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No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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