All Blacks Fans Turn on Richie Mo'unga After Springboks Claim 43-28 Series Win

• Richie Mo'unga returned to All Blacks Test rugby for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final but struggled to impose himself against the Springboks
• Eben Etzebeth repeatedly targeted Mo'unga throughout the match as South Africa sealed a 3-1 series victory in Baltimore
• Social media debate erupted over whether Ruben Love should replace Mo'unga as New Zealand's first-choice fly-half ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup

Richie Mo'unga's long-awaited return to All Blacks Test rugby ended in disappointment on Saturday as the Springboks ran out 43-28 winners in Baltimore to seal a 3-1 series victory, sparking fierce debate among New Zealand supporters over the fly-half's place in the team.

Mo'unga had not featured in Test rugby since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, and expectations were high following his recall by head coach Scott Robertson. Those expectations went largely unmet as the Springboks defence made life extremely difficult for the playmaker, with lock Eben Etzebeth singling him out for repeated physical challenges throughout the contest.

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Mo'unga Under Fire After Baltimore Defeat

The All Blacks were also hurt by a lack of ball for their number 10, with Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie appearing to function as the primary distributors rather than Mo'unga. He did produce a well-weighted kick for Barrett and recovered creditably after being beaten by Kurt-Lee Arendse, but his overall influence on the match fell short of what was anticipated.

Social media reaction from All Blacks supporters was unsparing. One fan wrote:

"Eben was hunting Richie Mo'unga and eating him up right until the final minute. Those tackles were landing with interest."

Another questioned the logic of recalling him at all, posting:

"Is this the 'Big-in-Japan' Richie Mo'unga Razor has been crying for?? He showed Ruben no Love."

Calls Grow for Ruben Love at Fly-Half

Love’s performance only strengthened the growing calls for him to reclaim the starting No. 10 jersey. One supporter questioned why the Hurricanes playmaker had not been given greater backing earlier in the campaign, writing:

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“They've been crying for Richie Mo'unga the whole season. They should've just backed Ruben Love.”

Another was even more emphatic, arguing that Love had shown qualities Mo’unga could not match:

“Ruben Love controls the attack and defends much better than Richie Mo'unga. That test just solidified in my mind that Love needs to be the 10 we go with as the main guy.”

Source: Briefly News