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Richie Mo'unga set to miss opening rounds of Super Rugby Pacific

Richie Mo'unga. (Photo by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport)

All Blacks playmaker Richie Mo’unga is set to miss the opening rounds of next year’s inaugural edition of Super Rugby Pacific.

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Mo’unga has been pivotal for the Crusaders in their five title-winning campaigns in Super Rugby and Super Rugby Aotearoa since 2017 but may be unavailable for as many six of the franchise’s first fixtures of the 2022 season.

That could leave the Crusaders without the 27-year-old for home matches against the Highlanders and Blues, away games against the Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika and Highlanders, and their Super Round clash against the Reds in Melbourne.

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Just how many matches, if any, Mo’unga will sit out depends on how physically and mentally drained he feels following a lengthy spell away from home with the All Blacks.

Mo’unga has played nine tests for the All Blacks in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Europe this year and is currently in the midst of a nine-week stint abroad as part of the team’s travel commitments amid Covid-19 restrictions.

A further two-week quarantine period upon the team’s return to New Zealand will extend his stay away from his young family, although that could have been longer had he travelled with the All Blacks when they left for Australia for the Rugby Championship in August.

Instead, Mo’unga remained in New Zealand to attend the birth of his second child, but travelled to Queensland and undertook a two-week quarantine in the lead-up to their tournament-ending loss to the Springboks last month, which he featured in.

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While New Zealand Rugby clarified that it wants all its franchise’s All Blacks playing in Super Rugby Pacific to help boost the profile of the new-look competition, Mo’unga has a clause in his Crusaders contract that entitles him to an extended off-season.

Anticipating that he will exercise that right outlined in his contract, Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson says he will discuss Mo’unga’s availability for next year once he returns from overseas in the coming weeks.

“It’s in his contract to have choices. Whether it’s two, four, six, or one week, they are conversations to be had,” Robertson told Stuff.

“It’s his call, but we will work through it. We’ll see how many games he’s played, how he is feeling. Does he want to do something different for the pre-season to freshen up?”

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Should he be without Mo’unga for an extended period, Robertson will be able to call upon the services of young prospect Fergus Burke and utility back David Havili, who guided the Crusaders to a win over the Chiefs from first-five last year.

It has also been reported that the Crusaders are expected to announce the signing of veteran playmaker Simon Hickey, formerly of the Blues and Hurricanes, when the New Zealand and Moana Pasifika Super Rugby squads are unveiled next Monday.

However, Robertson acknowledged the importance of having Mo’unga in his side’s ranks as he targets a sixth piece of silverware in as many seasons during his time at the helm of the franchise.

“He’s a franchise quarterback, we know that,” Robertson said, as per Stuff. “But guys behind him are just going to have to stand up, and that’s the great thing about our club, players do that. It’s an opportunity for someone.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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