Richie Mo'unga of New Zealand during warm ups. Rugby World Cup France 2023, New Zealand All Blacks v Italy, Pool A match at OL Stadium, Lyon, France on Friday 29 September 2023. Mandatory credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
First-five Richie Mo'unga is adamant the All Blacks are happy to be underdogs against Ireland and he can't wait to lock horns with opposite Johnny Sexton.
The TAB have the All Blacks as outsiders for for the first time at a World Cup with Ireland favoured to win Sunday morning's quarter-final in Paris.
It's also just the sixth time in history the New Zealand bookmakers have the All Blacks as underdogs.
However, Mo'unga insists they're not fazed.
"As a player it's not a biggie for us," Mo'unga said.
"You can't shy away from how great this Ireland team is and what they've achieved over the last couple of years. Defensively they're a really sound team. They're able to put teams in real pressure moments because of their set piece.
"They're the best team in the world right now. We don't have to be the best team now, we have to be on the day and that's a real target for us and something we're all looking forward to."
Mo'unga is one of several All Blacks veterans leaving New Zealand rugby at the end of their World Cup campaign.
"That's a big part of our motivation," Mo'unga said.
"Another big part is what happened four years ago in the semifinal."
Mo'unga said the lingering pain of their 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat to England is also driving many of the All Blacks players.
"It's huge motivation for myself. A quarter-final win [against Ireland] and riding a high and probably not re-setting back to zero for that semi, that was probably a real learning for our team. And also just how brutal World Cups can be. It comes down to real small moments in a game.
"The other motivation is the statement we all want to make about the 2023 All Blacks team and probably the biggest motivator is knowing what we're all capable of. Knowing the opportunity that lies ahead and wanting to stamp our mark and really build the potential that this team has."
Richie Mo'unga of New Zealand with Johnny Sexton. New Zealand All Blacks v Ireland, 3rd test at Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday 16 July 2022. 2022 Steinlager Series / 2022 Ireland Rugby Union Summer tour to New Zealand. © Copyright photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Mo'unga said he has the utmost respect for his Ireland opposite Johnny Sexton and he knows the All Blacks will need to keep him on a tight leash if they're to have any chance of winning this weekend's do or die clash.
"He's world class and he's a true director of his team. 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.
"It's just a true honour and a privilege to match up against someone like him."
Mo'unga believes Ireland have one of the best defences in the game and he knows it will be a massive challenge to try and get past their gain line on Sunday morning in Paris.
"It's a huge task. They defend so well because of a number of things; they use two tacklers in the tackle which slows the ball down and they have 14 players in their front line of defence sometimes," Mo'unga said.
"We have to have variation in our attack. We have to play eyes up footy and do the basics really well to challenge these guys.
"What they (Ireland) do, it's part of their DNA. They defend well and as you know defence wins World Cups...so it'll be important for our defence to do that as well."