Rugby
REVENGE OF THE DIGNIFIED
It’s no secret Razor has a hard-on for Richie Mo’unga.
by Cam Schuster I 28th January 2025
Ever since the Crusading First-Five left Aotearoa for Toshiba’s Brave Lupus in Japan and a 3-year contract worth 6 million NZ dollars, the current All-Black number 10 stocks haven't looked up to scratch in coach Robertson’s eyes and maybe also in the eyes of ABs fans, or is it just the Cantab ones? Either way, Razor has recognized a huge gap and made public his desire to bring back Mo’unga early to helm the All Blacks and to make everything better again.
The Bat signal was sent over Toshiba HQ, Richie looked up and smiled, and surprisingly so did his Toshiba bosses. Good signs? When fish bite at the bait that means the prize is interested in what you have to offer, it’s a matter of time before you start reeling it in right? According to TVNZ One News, all parties (NZR, Razor, Mo’unga, Toshiba) entered talks KEEN to have Mo’unga’s contract worked around for a return to NZ in time for the July tests against France. But sometimes when you’re reeling in the big fat Tuna, it comes off the line before it hits the boat, and that’s what happened. NZR left empty-handed, Richie dignified left with another long off-season counting his cash, Razor stopped halfway across a bridge and screamed ‘Richiiiiieeeee’ and Toshiba returned to selling TVs and Laptops.
What if Toshiba wanted compensation that was too much for NZR? The Japanese Corporation knows NZR is desperate for their guy thanks to Razor’s transparent approach to the media, so maybe the cost of letting Mo'unga go was enough for NZR’s Mark Robinson to say Hell-To-The-No-No-No. Business is war and the Japanese are the masters. (watch the 1993 movie RISING SUN starring Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes for reference) Nobody gets anything for free and maybe Toshiba needed to protect their investment with a cashback deal NZR couldn't agree to. No deal, the Japanese suits handed Razor a copy of Sun Tsu, bowed, and left the room.
Shit Show. It hasn't been smooth sailing for Razor since he became All-Black coach. First Leon McDonald quits his coaching staff after 5 matches, the All Blacks lose to Argentina and twice to the Springboks, struggle for a win against England, and are beaten by France, now this Bring Back Richie debacle takes the cake. The handling of this narrative has been a disaster and only Razor is to blame for all the ‘build-ups’ caused. Enough of the extra media engagement and YouTube docos of yourself and get back to coaching the ABs. I mean, you don't have to do the whole John Mitchell ‘the media is the enemy’ thing but Razor has to choose his battles and pick the one right in front of him - coach the players he has available.
I get it, Razor wants a specialist first-five eighth which Mo’unga provides. D-Mack is a bit of rocks ‘n’ diamonds at Ten, I prefer him at 15 which gives him a little more room to cook. We all know how dangerous D-Mack can be in broken play. Beauden Barrett, a better 15 than 10 is in the same boat, his size and instinctive play make Barrett a more solid First-Five over McKenzie, but inconsistencies have put question marks on his ability to cement this position. Then we have Stephen Perofeta who has yet to prove himself. He is a great runner of the ball in open play and may be seen as a poor-mans D-Mack but he’s still young and has more time to develop, unlike Harry Plummer who has jumped ship upon the news of the Mounga hunt.
Another ‘L’ for Razor. Plummer could have remained the 4th option for the ABs in 2025 and stalled his O.E. until the following year but no, another casualty from the Mounga debacle. Now, to all you non-believers out there laughing thinking ‘Harry Plummer!? How is he so important?’ Might I remind peeps of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the string of injuries to all top tier All Black first fives before a man they call Beaver 164th in the pecking order saved the day and kicked the ABs to world championship glory. (he was actually 4th in the pecking but you get my drift)
Would the All Blacks benefit with Richie back in black this year? Of course, he's the best specialist 10 they’ve got. Are the ABs Real Desperate Housewives to get him back for 2025 as Razor makes it out to be? No, he can work with the talent he has right now. Razor needs to go back to the drawing board and concentrate on coaching and winning. September will be a true test for Razor when the Springboks Look to smash the Eden Park winning record. Scott Robertson will not want to be the first All-Black coach since 1994 to lose there. That's an unwelcome stat Mo'unga could've helped to try to avoid.
Nevertheless, negotiations are done, the smoke has cleared and Mo’unga comes out of this debacle a winner. At the center of it all was Mo’unga’s dignity, attacked by Razor and avenged by a detail not yet made public. Richie Mo’unga returned to his Brave Lupus teammates to see out his 2nd season healthy and dignified.
