Rugby Bledisloe Cup: All Blacks Richie Mo’unga takes late punches to the chin

Many umpiring mistakes have been made that hurt the Wallabies’ chance to steal a famous win over the All Blacks in Wellington. However, as with any test, decisions are always missed tit for tat for various reasons.

Sure, Australian touch judge Angus Gardner should have seen Rieko Ioane’s foot on the line in the run-up to Jordie Barrett’s first try. And, yes, All Blacks rookie block Tupou Vaa’i clearly came in from the side of the ruck, leading to a crucial loss while the Wallabies were yards from the line in the final stages.

Both instances could have changed the outcome, so Ioane also dropped the ball over the line.

Perceptions weren’t helped by the presence of non-neutral officials for the first time in 40 years for a Bledisloe test, with New Zealand referee Paul Williams in charge after spending time in camp with the All Blacks in Hamilton ago two weeks.

However, when reviewing the evidence, it is also impossible to miss several clear late punches that Richie Mo’unga copied from the Wallabies’ defenders, all of which went unpunished.

“Richie has a bruised shoulder after being hit about four times after he happened. Other than that, pretty good,” All Blacks coach Ian Foster said of his team’s condition the morning after his tie of 16 players.

When asked if those incidents should have been reviewed by match officials, Foster said: “He has a pain in his shoulder.”

Blind Wallabies rookie Harry Wilson, in particular, was fortunate not to be penalized, at least, for his late hit that left Mo’unga face down on the field in the first half.

“I passed the ball and the next thing my stomach was on my chest,” Mo’unga said. “I gasped. It got me really good.”

On another occasion, after Mo’unga gave the pass for Ioane’s failed attempt just before halftime, Filipo Daugunu stepped out of his band and hit the Crusaders playmaker with no arms.

All of the first five eighths are used to being attacked and pressured, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see second Bledisloe officials at Eden Park this week scrutinizing the timing of tackles.

“That’s part of it. It happens a lot, and it’s up to the umpires to decide if they want to take a look or something,” Mo’unga added, clearly reluctant to complain.

“It’s out of my control. You just have to pass and try to get out of the way before you see one coming.”

Foster expects Beauden Barrett to come back from his minor Achilles complaint that forced him to retire two days before the starting Bledisloe, but has not yet confirmed whether he would move directly into Damian McKenzie’s fullback job.

The only other concern for the All Blacks is the imminent arrival of Ardie Savea’s second son. Savea moved to Auckland with the team on Monday, but naturally wants to be there for the birth.

“Not at the moment, no, but I’m not very good at predicting babies,” Foster said of Savea’s availability this week.

“That’s one of the small variables that plays in the background, but it doesn’t affect our planning for Ardie to be available right now.”