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\u2019unga\u2019s return.<\/p>\n
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first six Tests under head coach Dave Rennie at 10 in what has been a baptism of fire for the 25-year-old, but he has been replaced by Mo\u2019unga for the Springboks finale.<\/p>\n
There were a few errors from Love on the South African tour, but Donald has given him a \u201cflying pass\u201d for his performances against the back-to-back world champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe verdict is if you go to a World Cup tomorrow then you\u2019re more than comfortable if Ruben<\/a> is wearing the number 10 jersey,\u201d he said on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.<\/p>\n Mo\u2019unga threat<\/p>\n Host Kirstie Stanway then asked Donald whether Love would be his World Cup fly-half, but the ex-All Blacks<\/a> 10 knows that Mo\u2019unga<\/a> will be gunning for that jersey despite being impressed by the younger playmaker.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the complicated thing because we\u2019ve brought back Mo\u2019unga,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if we are looking specifically at Ruben Love, how\u2019s he gone? I think he\u2019s gone great considering he won\u2019t have a greater examination.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one thing to play one game against a team one weekend, to go back there three weekends in a row, that\u2019s huge.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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\u2019s a flying pass for him.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, the chat\u2019s going to come and the pressure is going to come from Richie once Richie gets his feet back.\u201d<\/p>\n