Pressure? Mo’unga is still in dreamland

Richie Mo’unga will have plenty to play for in the year’s second Bledisloe Cup test at the weekend, but don’t expect him to buckle under the pressure.

Failure against the Wallabies at Eden Park tomorrow night could spell the end of the All Blacks’ experiment of having two playmakers in the team. The fall guy from that could be Mo’unga.

The jury is still out on whether it works to have both No 10s in the All Blacks’ starting team and if the team does end up losing its grip on the Bledisloe Cup, it will the more experienced and proven Beauden Barrett who survives, back at No 10.

However, Mo’unga says his combination with Barrett is still a work in progress and evolving.

‘‘To be honest, it’s not something you’re really clearcut on. There is no end vision of what is the perfect way it looks like,’’ Mo’unga said yesterday.

‘‘We’re still trying to figure that out and that’s the beauty of having me and Beauden on at the same time. There are different situations that happen and having two ball players on the field and two kicking options, that’s a bonus.

‘‘When we are forced to play The experiment of dual playmakers in the All Blacks hasn’t been a roaring confidence, but Richie Mo’unga is a big fan. with the ball and chance our arm a bit, it means that Beauden can rely on me and I can rely on him to bounce a few things off.’’

Mo’unga believes having another playmaker on the field gives the All Blacks more attacking threats.

‘‘All of a sudden you’ve got two drivers on the field, as opposed to making decisions on your own.

‘‘Bouncing ideas off him is awesome. He adds a lot of wisdom and knowledge from the back and at times he’s happy to be quiet and let me take charge, which is awesome as well.’’

While there will need to be a better effort from the All Blacks’ forwards this weekend, Mo’unga will also be crucial to the victory.

However, he’s not feeling the stress from that responsibility – in fact, the 25-year old is revelling in it.

‘‘I thoroughly enjoy being out on the park and in all 11 tests, I’ve never taken anything for granted,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s something I look forward to, I love being out there running the cutter and throwing the ball around for my country.

‘‘We’ve got to step up this week, keep living our vision and our goals and giving back to this jersey. We’ve got a chance to do that this weekend and I’m looking forward to that as well.

‘‘I’ve always dreamed of this,’’ he added. ‘‘I’ve dreamed of being the No 10 for the All Blacks – it’s what I can remember from when I was little.

‘‘The hunger that I have for this team and being in this environment, it’s what I strive for and it’s what I keep working towards.

‘‘I’ve been given this opportunity to go out there and be me and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.’’

The weather forecast isn’t good for Auckland tomorrow night, with rain expected to arrive by the afternoon.

However, Mo’unga said it wouldn’t change dramatically how he approached the test.

‘‘I don’t think my job changes depending on anything else.

‘‘It’s about playing footy, being smart and adapting to whatever challenges we have in the game.

‘‘If you look at the facts of last week, it was about getting more pill, because we didn’t have any.

‘‘So it’s about how can we get more pill and what sort of things we do when we have it.’’