The playmaker who was once deemed too small to succeed is poised to upstage some of New Zealand’s all-time greatsWe are expanding our coverage of New Zealand. Please help us by supporting our independent journalismAs the Rugby
World Cup prepares for the quarter-finals, the outcome of the tournament may rest on the abilities of each contender’s key playmakers to unlock suffocating defence lines. Should the All Blacks prevail it will be, at least in part, because two years ago the Wales coach did
New Zealand Rugby a massive favour.
By shackling the Crusaders backline, and especially young first-five-eighth Richie Mo’unga, the Warren Gatland-coached
British &
Irish Lions dished out a lesson in rush defence that helped grow the All Black into the complete package he is today.