Steve Hansen claims Richie Mo’unga’s return to the All Blacks set-up isn’t about him challenging for the No 10 jersey, with Ruben Love playing well enough to retain his spot.
Mo’unga was called into New Zealand’s touring squad last week as a replacement for the injured Billy Proctor.
Hansen believes there is no pressure for the veteran playmaker to feature during the remainder of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, with time spent learning the lay of the land under head coach Dave Rennie equally important.
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“It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play, I don’t think,” Hansen was quoted by Newstalk ZB. “I think what matters is that he has the time with the group and the new coaches, the new systems, and he benefits then when he does get to play; so he’s got an understanding and he’s up to speed.
“So yeah, that’s obviously the reason why they’ve taken him, and I think it’s smart play.”
The former All Blacks boss also pointed to Beauden Barrett’s influence despite limited Test involvement early in Rennie’s tenure. The two-time World Player of the Year has started at flyhalf and fullback so far on the South African trip.
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“He’ll bring a lot to the discussion because he’s a smart player and he’s an experienced player,” Hansen added. “We saw Beauden not play a big part in the first three Test matches, but he was huge for the team.”
The 25-year-old Love has impressed in Mo’unga’s absence, winning all three of his Test starts in 2026.
“Love is still learning to be the player that he wants to be; he’s playing well,” Hansen noted.
“[Damian] McKenzie’s playing well, so we’ve just got to sit back and see what he does bring.”
The first of four Tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series kicks off at Ellis Park on Saturday, with the All Blacks coming off a huge win against the Vodacom Bulls while the Springboks’ last outing was a narrow win in Argentina two weeks ago.
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
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Steve Hansen claims Richie Mo’unga’s return to the All Blacks set-up isn’t about him challenging for the No 10 jersey, with Ruben Love playing well enough to retain his spot.
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