The battle between Handrè Pollard and Richie Mo’unga will be key in deciding who hoists the Webb Ellis Cup on Saturday evening.
I wrote an opinion piece during the early salvos of the tournament or just before kick-off about how important pivots have been at past tournaments and it will be no different on Saturday. Richie Mo’unga – who loves a game against the Springboks – will take on World Cup specialist Handre Pollard in the final.
The two men who don the number ten jumpers for their respective sides will have major roles to play this weekend as has every fly-half to have turned out in a World Cup final from the greats like Johnny Wilkson to one-hit wonders like Stephen Donald.
It reminded me of Stephen Donald in the 2011 RWC final pic.twitter.com/h4PErumzeO
— Monsta (@daonly_Monsta) October 22, 2023
Mo’unga versus Pollard Show
It will be the Mo’unga v Pollard show this weekend. The has been New Zealand’s incumbent fly-half since the previous World Cup, while the latter has enjoyed a remarkable comeback from injury and briefly slipped behind Manie Libbok in the pecking order as a result. You feel that Pollard’s inclusion in the side is a direct result of the weather. Libbok struggled to play his natural, expansive game against England in the same sort of conditions we’re expecting to see this weekend.
A Spot of History
The Kiwi pivot has sometimes struggled on the Test rugby scene especially in his formative years on the international stage often going missing against big sides. This hasn’t been the case against South Africa, though, with Mo’unga always upping his game against the men in Green and Gold.
During his debut season (2018) he kicked the winning conversion against South Africa in that 30-32 thriller at Loftus. He hasn’t looked back since against the Boks having an absolute blinder against them when the sides met the following year in the Rugby World Cup – that tackle on Cheslin Kolbe will live long in all Blacks folklore – while he has delivered the goods on multiple times in Rugby Championship clashes between the old foes, including this year’s sole Rugby Championship clash between the two where he scored 20 points in his side’s 35-20 win at Mount Smart.
Like Mo’unga, Pollard loves a game against the old enemy with the 2019 World Cup winner putting in a brilliant display at his first World Cup where the two sides met in the 2015 semi-finals. While South Africa would end up losing the game 20-18, Pollard was on fire during the clash converting all his shots at goal. He also shone when the two sides clashed in the 2015 Rugby Championship scoring two tries in a narrow 25-27 defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
This will be the first time Mou’unga starts at fly-half in a World Cup final, but for Pollard, it will be familiar territory. He was one of the stars of the show in 2019 scoring 22 points as South Africa beat England 32-12.
2019 v 2023
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 23, 2023
Pollard's precision 🎯#ENGvRSA | #RWC2019 | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/vwVDybj4sq
World Cup so far
Mo’unga has played far more rugby at this World Cup than Pollard with the Kiwi pivot starting all of their World Cup fixtures apart from their clash against Namibia, while Pollard has only started one game against Tonga and come off the bench in the quarters and semis.
The Kiwi has been solid off the tee kicking at just over 70%, while Pollard has been a dead-eye dick and is yet to miss a kick although his sample size is a lot smaller than that of Mo’unga’s.
Both players are solid game drivers able to command a backline and also get their forward pack on the front foot by playing the territory game. Where they differ slightly is in attacking the goal line with Mo’unga using his flash feet and turn of speed and Pollard able to turn into a battering ram if necessary.
Ireland 24 - 28 New Zealand. THREAD - A try that will really irritate Ireland and Andy Farrell in particular. A mix up between the tail gunner and the first defender makes this Will Jordan try look far too simple.. (3/5)#RWC2023 #IREVNZL #IRE #NZL pic.twitter.com/idDaSOnHsa
— RugbyGlobal (@RugbyGlobal) October 19, 2023
All on the Line
For both men this may well be their final World Cups with both 29 years of age and some young guns coming through for both countries. They’ve had some epic battles in the past and this should be another one of those should Pollard get the start he is due.
