All Blacks vs Australia: ‘That’s a bad man’: TJ Perenara praises Richie Mo’unga

All Blacks running back TJ Perenara has identified the two “defining moments” in the All Blacks’ 43-5 win over the Wallabies: Richie Mo’unga’s art at No. 10 and the desperate defensive play of Jordie Barrett who prevented Marika Koroibete from scoring in the seconds of the final. .

With the game long gone, Wallabies wing Koroibete looked sure to get a consolation attempt, but Barrett hit him with a grand tackle and threw the ball free in Sydney on Saturday.

“For me, that moment, outside of Richie’s frantic plays in the game, was probably the best play of the game,” Perenara said Sunday.

“It’s the 80th minute, we’re up 43-5 and Jordie could easily not have made a play at that angle, he scores in the corner, and we probably still had a very good performance.

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“But seeing Jordie get there regardless of the score, regardless of the situation, regardless of the time on the clock, worrying about defending our line, worrying about winning every moment, for me that defines a great player and a great team.” .

The All Blacks celebrated Barrett’s try-saver with almost as much vigor as his previous try, indicating how much defensive intensity they brought to the contest.

Still, Bledisloe III will forever be remembered as Mo’unga’s test after the No. 10 racked up 23 points in a full performance that featured outstanding tactical kicks and ball-in-hand wizardry.

Slightly awkward, Perenara and Mo’unga were sitting side by side for Sunday’s press duties, but Perenara was still able to deliver some honest praise for the playmaker.

“Largely [Mo’unga’s performance] I was on the sidelines watching it, ”Perenara said.

“Some of the things Richie did last night… it was pretty special.

“He’s a humble guy and he knows it’s part of the job and I hope Richie comes out and I hope Richie plays well.

“When he does that kind of thing, I know it is something he can do, because I have seen him in Super Rugby and I have seen him in training.

“But then when you see him do it in the sand, you can’t help but say, ‘man, that’s a bad man out there, straight.’

“Some of the things he did were things other people can’t do.”

Sometimes Mo’unga couldn’t be played. Having set the game up with his kicking game, he then scored two brilliant attempts with several Wallabies defenders unable to put a hand on him.

Still, Mo’unga was determined to divert credit to his teammates on Sunday.

“You have to be honest, you’re happy, you’re happy but you can’t take away what the whole group has done,” he said.

“Those individual things don’t come from the things you do for yourself, it’s always about the team.

“When you play for the All Blacks it’s always about the team. I’ll stay happy on the touchline or in the stadium and watch the guys do the work if that’s the same result. “

Mo’unga admitted that the All Blacks had changed their game plan to accommodate the appalling conditions in Sydney, and the simplistic strategy was too much for a Wallabies team that kicked badly and finished second in collisions.

“It’s the clarity in the game plan, it’s the clarity in what we want to do as a team,” Mo’unga said of the revised roster. “Obviously the weather was a big part of it.

“We had to play a little bit differently than we did in Bled I and Bled II.

“We approached it with a really clear and simple game plan.”