ABs friends turn foes in Hamilton
The duel between Richie Mo’unga and Damian McKenzie could add some crackle to what may be a gloomy night in Hamilton.
Mo’unga and McKenzie had time to get acquainted during the recent All Blacks camps, although playing swapsies with each other’s playbooks ahead of the Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and Chiefs tonight wouldn’t have been a consideration for either of the first five-eighths.
A fine performance by Mo’unga in Christchurch last weekend proved instrumental in the Crusaders beating the Hurricanes 24-13 in the driving rain and, in doing so, he earned accolades for his tactical nous as well as ensuring his team retained its position at the head of the competition table.
The question is whether Mo’unga, whose only appearance for his country was as a replacement against a French XV in Lyon last November, has done enough to convince the All Blacks selectors he should be included on the bench ahead of McKenzie as back-up to Beauden Barrett against France in Auckland next Saturday night.
McKenzie has an ace up his sleeve, of course.
He can play the versatility card, having appeared at wing and fullback at test level; a lethal attacker with the ability to use a side-step, speed and self-confidence to create line breaks he was likened to a ‘‘fly in a bottle’’ by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen last year.
McKenzie’s switch from fullback to first-five, at the behest of the All Blacks selectors, has forced him to operate with defenders rushing into his face and with limited time to make decisions – and it hasn’t always been a magic carpet ride.
‘‘It has been a big change,’’ McKenzie, a former schoolboy star at Christ’s College who elected to sign with Waikato ahead of Canterbury, admitted this week. ‘‘I guess 15 is a bit more free spirited in how you play and at 10 you have to be a bit smarter. That’s been a bit of a difference from previous years.’’
Mo’unga enters this contest with some compelling statistics in his file. He has won 18 of his last 19 Super Rugby games, including the last five in a row against New Zealand opponents.
Since his return from a broken jaw on March 2 the No 10 has ejected himself out of the pocket, standing flat to sack ball carriers or run at defenders. And as witnessed against the Hurricanes last weekend, his tactical kicking can be outstanding.
Rain is forecast for the match against the Chiefs, and selecting the tactic of using forwards to keep the ball close to the rucks, along with Mo’unga kicking long and into the corners, seems logical.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson acknowledged the task of negating McKenzie’s skills was paramount.
‘‘Damo is critical to them,’’ Robertson said. ‘‘They have got some great players in that team, that really carry them, and Damian is one of them . . . he can light it up, is dangerous and has converted well to 10.’’
Robertson delivered sour and sweet news when naming this team.
All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty were again omitted because of concussions, but Joe Moody returns from suspension, Jordan Taufua has recovered from a calf strain and Israel Dagg is back from a knee injury. Moody’s arrival back at loosehead prop is timely, against a Chiefs scrum ranked the best in the competition.
‘‘Well deserved as No 1,’’ Robertson stated. ‘‘They have had a lot guys come in go in that front row, but they have always stood up. We know every time we go up to Chiefsland their scrum is one to watch.’’
Crusaders:
Chiefs:
Referee: Kickoff: