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'Prove them wrong': All Blacks want to silence critics says Richie Mo'unga
By Ben Smith
All Black first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga says the team is motivated to prove the critics wrong in the aftermath of the historic Ireland series that saw a 2-1 loss, the first series defeat on home soil since 1994.
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The Crusaders pivot admitted the pressure ‘feels different’ this time around, but the players have been talking about the fixtures remaining in the calendar year as an opportunity to prove a point.
The All Blacks will have a tough road ahead with two away fixtures against South Africa, before a pair of home games against Argentina. They will finish The Rugby Championship with home-and-away fixtures against Australia.
“Yeah, it does [feel different], but what an awesome opportunity,” Mo’unga said.
“We really see the opportunity being, at the end of this year after we play England, looking back on the journey we’ve been on and how cool was it to see what we’ve turned around, to have a lot of people say things that they have said about our team, pushing us as All Blacks and just really to prove them wrong.
“Not only that, but to prove to each other what we’re capable of and who we are as All Blacks.”
Mo’unga has not paid much attention the public backlash and the media since losing they lost the series to Ireland, but he understands what is expected of the All Blacks in New Zealand and what happens when the team is not travelling well.
The team has had ‘really honest conversations’ internally about what they need to do moving forward after two assistant coaches were let go.
“To be honest, I’ve been at home with two kids, so not much,” he said.
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“But I do know what people are capable of and the outside noise, but really just understand that people care about the All Blacks and everyone wants to the All Blacks to do well.
“As All Blacks, we’ve got to better at our job, not take any of that into consideration, but just to be better for ourselves and for the All Blacks.
“We’re [under] no illusions [that] it wasn’t good enough against Ireland in the series that was had, but we’re really looking forward to the opportunity to right a few wrongs and to be better, because we’re capable and we need to make a statement about who we are as All Blacks and the standard that comes with it.”
The All Blacks will play the Springboks in South Africa for the first time since 2018, where Mo’unga played a pivotal cameo off the bench to complete a 32-20 comeback win in Pretoria.
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After trailing by 30-13, a flurry of All Black tries late in the game changed the momentum. Scott Barrett scored a pick-and-go try with five minutes remaining, before Ardie Savea scored in similar fashion from close range with just 60 seconds left on the clock.
With the scores locked 30-all, Richie Mo’unga stepped up to slot the game-winning conversion as the clock turned red to claim a famous victory.
Mo’unga is well aware that many of the current All Black squad have not played a test match in the Republic, and described it as the ‘toughest place’ to play rugby in the world.
“It’s tough, really tough,” he said of the trip to South Africa.
“We haven’t played there in a while, but a team with so much confidence after their win over Wales and their fans and how hostile it can be, but what a challenge for us, is just the way I look at it.
“I don’t see it any other way than this opportunity being the biggest opportunity against the toughest team in the toughest place to play footy. Really looking forward to it.”
I'd really like to see Richie start a test with Havili outside him. They're a proven combination and know each others game so well. Surely it's time to try that.