'It has to be brutal': All Blacks still haunted by Christchurch shocker
SPOTLIGHT: All Black flyhalf Richie Mo’unga says his team can’t afford to be “one-dimensional” when they face Argentina in their Rugby Championship Round One opener in Mendoza on Saturday.
Ian Foster’s side learnt some important lessons after their 18-25 defeat to Los Pumas in Christchurch last year.
The All Blacks were outplayed for most of the game on their way to the shocking defeat and they don’t want to fall into the same traps as they did on that day.
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“Real good lessons learned in Christchurch,” Mo’unga told media ahead of Saturday’s clash.
“When you get one-dimensional about your style of play against the Argentinians, that’s when you can pay [the price].
“They are a big physical team, real good loose forwards who want to get on the ball and love to jackal.
“Discipline let us down, as well.”
Guzzler 😍
Who remembers this beauty from Retallick last time we played in Argentina! 🤟 pic.twitter.com/qNW7AahcS4
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 2, 2023
In last year’s tournament. the All Blacks managed to bounce back by beating the Argentinians 53-3 in Hamilton a week later and Mo’unga believes that result is evidence of how quickly his team is able to adapt and turn things around
“I guess the big difference was we used attacking kicks,” the flyhalf explained.
“We sort of won our exits a bit better and were able to get penalties in their half which gave us entries in their 22. Not trying to match them, passion for passion, but being really smart about how we play footy.
“It has to be brutal in terms of winning collisions, as well, but understanding when they have won the battle and we need to get to our kicking game.
“It is also variety of how we attack as well.”
Source: stuff.co.nz
