PERFECT TEN
Mo’unga stars as Crusaders’ streak hits double digits
Advantage Richie Mo’unga. A week removed from outshining incumbent All Blacks No 10 Beauden Barrett, the Crusaders playmaker did not miss the opportunity to do the same against his Chiefs counterpart Damian McKenzie at Waikato Stadium last might.
Likely vying for the role of Barrett’s backup in the opening All Blacks test against France in a week’s time, not only was Mo’unga making his kicks, but he looked dangerous almost every time he touched the ball .
And it wouldn’t have been missed by those watching the match. Pregame drama saw All Blacks on either side have their named scratched from the final team lists. Sam Cane was replaced by young loose forward Pita-Gus Sowakula on the Chiefs bench, while the Crusaders had a major reshuffle across the paddock after the late exclusions of midfielder Jack Goodhue and No 8 Jordan Taufua. Perhaps a sign the trio are in line for at least some minutes in a week’s time.
Mo’unga got himself involved from the outset and, as things progressed, it was clear he was making more of an impact. With more success both running the ball and from the boot, it will be hard for the national selectors to overlook his recent form in choosing their first 23 of the year.
Mo’unga set the tone for his performance early, nailing a sideline conversion in the fifth minute following a Heiden Bedwell-Curtis try. It wasn’t long before McKenzie opened his case for a black jersey, however. The Chiefs’ No 10 found winger Sean Wainui with a long, swooping pass for the home side’s opener.
The Chiefs found the lead two minutes later after a piece of brilliance from midfielder Charlie Ngatai put the side in excellent field position for loose forward Luke Jacobson to crash over. The lead didn’t hold into the break though. Crusaders loose forward Matt Todd crashed over from the back of a rolling maul and the boot of Mo’unga had the visitors leading 20-13 at halftime.
The visitors struck again five minutes after the break through
winger George Bridge.
The Crusaders held the ascendancy momentarily, but when Jacobson bagged his second for the night, the pendulum began to swing. On the back of Jacobson’s second of the night, the Chiefs lifted in their intensity and began to press.
Backed by a raucous crowd, the Chiefs weren’t afraid to throw the ball around heading into the final 10 minutes. Unfortunately for the home side fatigue was setting in, with passes going to ground.
Replacement lock Luke Romano sealed the win for the Crusaders with a try in the 77th minute as they robbed the Chiefs of a deserved bonus point and continued their dominant run.
The competition now goes on hold over the international window, with the next matches on June 29.
Crusaders 34 (H. Bedwell-Curtis, M. Todd, G. Bridge, L. Romano tries; R. Mo’unga 3 cons, 2 pens; M. Hunt con)
Chiefs 20 (L. Jacobson 2, S. Wainui tries; D. McKenzie con, pen)
HT: 20-13