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Richie Mo'unga speaks out: What really happened at Crusaders lockdown breach
By Online Editors
Under-fire All Blacks and Crusaders first-five Richie Mo'unga has taken to social media to offer his side of the story after he was filmed training with teammates near their team base in Christchurch yesterday.
Newshub reported that a witness had spotted the Crusaders players who belonged to separate "bubbles" passing and kicking the ball between them at a park.
The Crusaders confirmed that Mo'unga was one of the players involved and said in a later statement that it was not an organised team training.
The Crusaders players have since been widely criticised, including from NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson who said the players' actions were "unacceptable".
Speaking on his Instagram account, Mo'unga this morning apologised for not being a role model but insisted that the report didn't tell the whole story.
"As many of you would've seen yesterday, there was footage of me picking up a ball and chucking it back to some of the other lads," he said, speaking directly to the camera in an Instagram story.
"I just want to speak about what happened and clear a few things up. Some things that I think are important to know and also some things that was forgot [sic] to be mentioned on the news last night.
"I want to start off by saying this was not an organised training. There were no communications before hand saying that we should train in this park together. It was by coincidence that I rocked up and they were there training.
"In fact, they were there just finishing up their session. My local park is that local park and our training schedules are the same so we run on the same days. It just so happened to be it was the same time."
Mo'unga continued to outline what happened, which he says was a coincidental meeting where he eventually broke the bubble on accident.
"As I arrived I [talked] to the boys from afar, asking how they were and got ready for my running session. As I had finished one of my running sessions, the ball had been kicked over and instinctively I went and picked the ball up and threw it back to them.
"I will say that was the only interaction I had with them apart from talking to them. It was something that was so instinctive for me to do - to pick the ball up and throw it back to them. I didn't think twice about it. It was something that happened fast.
"It's something that I've learnt that even [though it was] my natural instincts, it's something I need to be more careful of and I will be more careful of."
The 25-year-old then apologised for his actions saying it "doesn't excuse" his behaviour.
"It doesn't excuse the fact that there were two other bubbles that were passing around the ball together and it doesn't excuse the fact that I can be better and a better role model in telling the boys that 'Hey look, you guys are done. You should head home now'. And I am sorry for that.
"I want to thank all my friends and my supporters and all my family and people that know me well enough to know that I'm not out there on purpose."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged Kiwis on the weekend to continue to follow the level 4 rules and said those that continued to flout them were "idiots".
Observing the trajectories overseas had helped the Government to decide to "go hard and go early", Ardern said.
"Be proud of your efforts that you have all made. It is making a difference. Now is the time though to remain focused, to not let up.
"It improves our chances of getting out of this alert level."
- By NZ Herald
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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