Former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald has praised the performances of Ruben Love but expects the number 10 duel to heat up following Richie Mo’unga’s return.
The Hurricanes star started the first six Tests under head coach Dave Rennie at 10 in what has been a baptism of fire for the 25-year-old, but he has been replaced by Mo’unga for the Springboks finale.
There were a few errors from Love on the South African tour, but Donald has given him a “flying pass” for his performances against the back-to-back world champions.
“The verdict is if you go to a World Cup tomorrow then you’re more than comfortable if Ruben is wearing the number 10 jersey,” he said on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
Mo’unga threat
Host Kirstie Stanway then asked Donald whether Love would be his World Cup fly-half, but the ex-All Blacks 10 knows that Mo’unga will be gunning for that jersey despite being impressed by the younger playmaker.
“That’s the complicated thing because we’ve brought back Mo’unga,” he said. “But if we are looking specifically at Ruben Love, how’s he gone? I think he’s gone great considering he won’t have a greater examination.
“It’s one thing to play one game against a team one weekend, to go back there three weekends in a row, that’s huge.
“When we were coming home strong in Cape Town, it was Ruben who was starting to poke his head through and was starting to find gaps, and the game was starting to flow from, even after a couple of mistakes early. His goal-kicking stood up under pressure so it’s a flying pass for him.
“I guess going from Super Rugby, it was supposed to be this pyjama rugby that was glorified touch footy. Well, the greatest contrast to that is playing the Springboks and he’s gone from playing razzle-dazzle with the Hurricanes to now steering an All Blacks ship against the Springboks, who play a completely different game, and he stood up massively.
“Obviously, the chat’s going to come and the pressure is going to come from Richie once Richie gets his feet back.”
Beauden Barrett will not give up hope on returning to the pivot position while Damian McKenzie, who has been at full-back under Rennie, also prefers the 10 shirt.
However, most now expect it to be a battle between Love and Mo’unga, with Donald predicting that the latter will get more chances in the northern leg of the Nations Championship in November.
‘Not come back to sit in the grandstand’
“They’re all going to get some slices along the way. I would imagine Richie will start one or two Tests on the end-of-year tour for sure,” he said.
“He’s also come straight back from Japan, straight into NPC for a couple of games and then straight into the Lions games, and it’s been quite a whirlwind for him.
“He’s coming into completely different systems too. When he left New Zealand Rugby, the All Blacks that he left, the Crusaders that he left would have been playing very differently to what he’s expected to do under Rens now.
“It’s a matter of him getting used to that, but the guy’s quality, there’s a reason why New Zealand Rugby and Razor (Scott Robertson) were so desperate to get him back.
“He’s going to feature but the fact is Ruben’s done well. Of course he hasn’t come back to sit in the grandstand, though.”
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