Mo’unga tough, tenacious and key Crusaders cog
Long gone are the days when a player like Richie Mo’unga could debate whether it was worth flinging his kit in the laundry basket.
There was a time when first fiveeighths could cosy-up in the pocket during a game, and rely on the forwards to provide protection from the long reach and pointy knees and elbows of marauding opposition breakaways.
To risk injury by tackling, or carrying the ball near human tanks weighing up to 30kg more, weren’t tasks prescribed to many first-fives.
Mo’unga, who weighs around 88kg, wouldn’t be permitted to get away with that in Super Rugby nowadays. Not when he is pulling the strings for the Crusaders, and especially not when it’s against their old rival, the Blues, at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night.
"The reason I play rugby is for the fun factor,"Mo’unga said. ‘‘You talk to the boys out here and they say I have too much fun, but I am really enjoying my footy.’’
Surely that’s a good thing, too. Former Irish first-five Ronan O’Gara, an assistant backs coach at the Crusaders, insists that attitude will never be knocked out of the players; they are encouraged to have a go and create precious line breaks.
‘‘That is what you want from your players,’’ O’Gara said. ‘‘I think the perfect example being, hopefully, Richie Mo’unga. The fact he seems to be enjoying his rugby. It is not prescribed. Just go play like a young kid in the park.
‘‘You might think that’s simple, but some of it is obviously his homework done very early in the week. But at other times he hopefully plays what he sees, and that is what great players do.’’
Mo’unga contributed 25 points when the Crusaders beat the Highlanders 45-22 last weekend, scoring a try and kicking eight goals.
He wasn’t perfect but given he had only played 10 minutes, in his test debut for the All Blacks against France in Dunedin on June 23, in the previous four weeks he quickly whacked the rust out of his system. It’s paramount Mo’unga, 24, maintains his form for the Crusaders as they strive to defend the title they won in Johannesburg last year.
Regardless of the result against the Blues they will host playoff games in Christchurch as long as they stay alive in the competition. For a team that has now won 11 straight, a defeat just won’t do. This is the hardly the time of the year for teams to signal they are vulnerable.
"I would say this year I have really taken pride in running this team really well, with my game management and with the way I play with ball in hand,’’ Mo’unga added.
‘‘The best way to lead my backline is to do my own job well, and that allows (Ryan) Crotty to do what he needs to do and so forth. If I am doing it then you get the likes of Seta (Tamanivalu) playing as well as he is and getting one on ones.’’
Mo’unga isn’t fragile. He proved that earlier this season when, having returned to duty after recovering from a busted jaw which needed four plates inserted to help it mend, he stood firm in the defensive line.
Comparing notes with Beauden Barrett while in camp with the All Blacks also enabled him to return to Christchurch with fresh intelligence.
Now, mercifully, the Blues’ nightmare season is almost at an end. Honouring veteran back rower Jerome Kaino with an upset win is the message that will be relayed among his team-mates.
Mo’unga said the Crusaders don’t want it to happen on their watch: ‘‘Although we have got next week guaranteed, it still doesn’t take away the edge that the boys have this week.
‘‘And knowing how important it is that individuals get a crack this week, and might not get one next week.’’
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