There will be no shortage of blockbuster matchups when the All Blacks and Ireland take to the Stade de France field in what promises to be an all-time classic Rugby World Cup quarter-final this weekend.
Earlier in the week, Ireland named a matchday 23 oozing with the kind of power and class that have propelled the nation to world rugby’s No 1 ranked team, surviving multiple injury scares from round five’s Scotland Test.
The All Blacks have replied in kind, naming a team packed with explosive talent, with just one departure from the expected starting XV as Leicester Fainga’anuku steps in for the stood-down Mark Telea.
Across the park, the matchups are mouth-watering, perhaps none more so than at first five-eighth.
Driving their respective teams around the park under the bright lights of Paris will be two of the rugby world’s master tacticians; Richie Mo’unga and Johnny Sexton.
Both players have a wealth of winning experience for club and country, but neither has touched the field in a Rugby World Cup final.
Fronting media after the All Blacks’ team naming, Mo’unga shared his admiration for his opposite.
“Johnny is all class, he’s a true director of his team,” he said. “Everything goes through Johnny.
“The way he’s able to play and be so consistent at the top level, he’s really transcended what it’s like to play as a first-five, fly-half.
“Yeah, it’s just a true honour and privilege to match up against him. It’s really cool. For someone from the other side of the world, it’s really exciting.”
Both teams have been ruthless in breaking down their opponent’s defence so far in the tournament, comfortably claiming the most points in their respective pools.
The knockout stages promise a very different challenge though, and Ireland’s defence in particular has proven a tough nut to crack. Andy Farrell’s men haven’t conceded more than 17 points all year and have only twice conceded more than 20 points during their current 17-game win streak.
The match that preceded that win streak though was a 42-19 win to the All Blacks in the first Test of the historic Steinlager Series, which Ireland would go on to win.
Mo’unga was not employed as the preferred first five-eighth in that series, so will lead a refreshed attack against the Irish wall.
“Yeah, that’s a huge task. It starts up front, ball carrying and momentum, winning the speed of the ruck, making that ball as quick as we can.
“We’ve got to play eyes-up footy but do the basics really well to challenge these guys. If we can do that, we can get inroads and hopefully get awarded some penalties around the ruck.”
That new attack is orchestrated by former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt. The coach joined Ian Foster’s staff after the Steinlager Series loss and has implemented new tactics to break down aggressive defensive lines, like that of the Irish.
Despite Schmidt’s relatively recent involvement in the Irish camp, the Irish players have insisted there are no tactical insights the coach could bring to the New Zealand scouting report, claiming a completely overhauled system under new coach Andy Farrell.
The All Blacks camp has been queried on the influence Schmidt has had in preparations for the do-or-die Test, but has consistently answered by pointing out the coach’s influence since joining the team in general.
“It’s been really great to have him in. He really is just a true passionate man of the game of rugby.
“You know, you get caught in the hallways talking code with him and you could be there a fair while. You’ve got to just turn your head the other way sometimes, try and avoid that,” Mo’unga joked.
“Nah, he’s awesome, the different perspective of footy he has. I would say that perspective is real basic, and the things that make a team tick really well.
“There’s been a few times too, you know, you’ve seen an angry Joe Schmidt as well, which has been pretty cool.”
