Former All Blacks wing John Kirwan is convinced that Richie Mo’unga will face the Springboks later this year.
Mo’unga is set to return to New Zealand after his stint with the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan, but NZ Rugby policy currently rules him out of the Nations Championship matches in July and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour in August and September because he must first play NPC rugby for Canterbury before becoming eligible again.
Kirwan, however, is convinced the All Blacks will find a way around the issue.
“That’s going to happen. He’s going to play for his club and he will be in Africa, don’t even think about it,” Kirwan said on the Rivals podcast alongside former Bok lock Victor Matfield.
Kirwan even joked that injuries have historically created loopholes for players in similar situations.
“What would happen back in the old days is they would say: ‘JK, just pull a hammy and just fake it’ and Richie plays [for Canterbury] and he’s available the next day,” he said.
MORE: Rennie wanted Richie to face Stormers
Matfield compared the scenario to the Springboks’ decision to call up flyhalf Handré Pollard during the 2023 World Cup after hooker Malcolm Marx was injured.
“How many players are coming over? There’s 45 so there will be injury,” Matfield said.
“We saw it in the previous World Cup with Malcolm Marx getting injured and Handré Pollard coming in, so I think we can maybe see the same thing there.”
KIRWAN: Time to scrap Super Rugby
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post JK: All Blacks will fake injury to pick Richie appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former All Blacks wing John Kirwan is convinced that Richie Mo’unga will face the Springboks later this year.
The post JK: All Blacks will fake injury to pick Richie appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
