England great offers Richie Mo’unga theory for All Blacks issues as Scott Robertson ‘unsettles’ Damian McKenzie
Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo'unga playing together at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson.
England men’s record cap holder Ben Youngs believes that the Richie Mo’unga links could be ‘unsettling’ Damian McKenzie.
The Chiefs star was backed by head coach Scott Robertson to take the fly-half mantle from Mo’unga, who moved to Japan following the Rugby World Cup.
McKenzie started every game in the July series, including both England Tests, and then took the reins for the first five Rugby Championship encounters.
However, the 29-year-old produced some mixed performances and was subsequently dropped for the final match of the tournament.
Replaced by Beauden Barrett
Beauden Barrett came in at pivot, guiding New Zealand to a 33-13 victory over the Wallabies, and is favourite to take the number 10 shirt against England this weekend.
The form of McKenzie has been the subject of much debate, which has placed great pressure on the playmaker, but Youngs does not believe that the talk around Mo’unga’s potential return has helped.
Robertson and New Zealand Rugby have openly stated that, if possible, they would like to bring the previous incumbent back from Asia, which the former Red Rose half-back reckons could have undermined McKenzie.
“I do wonder, the whole McKenzie and Mo’unga thing, that can be a little bit unsettling,” he said on the For The Love Of Rugby podcast.
“If I was playing and in that position and you know that they’re trying to get someone back over, saying: ‘We want him back because he’s the best guy and that’s who I want to build my team around’, that would piss me off to be honest with you.
“Because I feel like you haven’t been given a fair crack. It feels like it’s pre-meditated rather than giving him the reins.”
McKenzie’s inconsistency has been matched by the team’s with the All Blacks succumbing to three defeats out of six in the recent Rugby Championship.
Youngs thinks that “the Razor element hasn’t quite kicked in”, but knows that they still have the ability to dominate opponents.
New Zealand head to Twickenham for a mouth-watering clash against the Red Rose this weekend with both sides desperately needing a result.
Red Rose boss Steve Borthwick has already named his squad and one of that 23, prop Dan Cole, is Youngs’ regular co-host on the show.
Cole will be at coalface when he comes off the bench and the tighthead understands that Robertson’s men will represent a multi-faceted threat on Saturday.
Physicality and individual quality
“They can be direct and physical,” the prop said. “They’re probably not working on that seamless transition play but they’ve still got the players outside that can go 50 and score, so they’re always dangerous in that regard.”
Youngs very much agreed Cole, especially around the physicality aspect of their game. Although the All Blacks have been renowned for their ability with ball in hand, the 35-year-old insists that their power throughout the 23 should not be underestimated.
“I think publicly they’re not necessarily recognised as being as physical as we know they are. They are incredibly physical and they play so low to the ground; breakdown work and all that,” he added.
“You make one mistake and they score, and you think, ‘we’ve just chucked the kitchen sink at them, how has that happened?’
“Equally, they do have the ability to go – like the Ireland game in the World Cup – and keep the ball for 30 phases.
“They’re just coming at you and coming at you, they have that ability as well. That’s the little bit that unnerves me a bit which is that they’ve had continuity going into it (this weekend’s game).”
