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'Mentally, a step behind': Mo'unga on tight Japan Test
By Ned Lester
All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga was critical of his side’s mental preparation after a close win in Japan.
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The game was played at the National Kasumigaoka Stadium in Tokyo, in front of over 60,000 Japanese fans, all of whom certainly got their money’s worth, with the Japanese team striking back time after time to keep within only a few points of the All Blacks.
The final score of 31-38 was a far closer encounter than many expected, even with a remarkably changed starting All Blacks line-up and a Japanese outfit continuing their ascension in the international landscape.
Mo’unga was questioned sideline after the game, agreeing with the observation that his All Blacks team looked fatigued.
“I wouldn’t say physically fatigued but mentally, (we were) a step behind.
“We weren’t sharp in our thought process and getting to solutions quick, maybe our minds were a bit cluttered but as we see when we come out and we put a few phases together, we look really strong but the Japanese were really good at stopping that and stopping that momentum.
“They wanted to prove something and I thought they did tonight, they’re a classy side and for us, we were a bit slow on solutions and learning.
“A lot of combinations out there that haven’t played together at all, at Super Rugby or test match footy so we’ll take the learnings.
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Both Anton Lienert-Brown and Dalton Papali’i came off the bench in the game and admitted it was a scrappy performance from their team.
“A little bit scrappy, myself included,” Lienert-Brown conceded.
“Every time you put the All Blacks jersey on, you know the standard you’ve got to play to.
“For me personally and the team as well, there’s a bit to work on.”
Papali’i was equally honest but more set on looking to the positives ahead of the All Blacks’ next clash with Wales.
“We’ve got to be honest with ourselves, a bit of a scrappy game,” Papali’i said.
“A win’s a win and Japan have gotten better each year.
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“They’re a powerhouse team, giant killers, so we knew it was going to be a tough match, we’re just lucky we came out on top.
“It’s good to get some time on the feet out there with the boys and start the tour off well, with a win.”
