Coach Dave Rennie was eager for flyhalf Richie Mo’unga to start in the All Blacks’ opening Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour match of South Africa.
Mo’unga has signed an 18-month deal to return home after a stint in Japan with Toshiba Brave Lupus, but NZ Rugby’s eligibility rules will delay his international comeback.
Under current policy, overseas-based players must first feature in the NPC before being considered for national selection. That means Mo’unga will need to turn out for Canterbury before becoming eligible again in October – ruling him out of the July Tests against France, Italy and Ireland, as well as the All Blacks’ August-September tour to South Africa.
Rennie admitted the situation has disrupted his early plans.
“The thinking would have been that Richie would be in the group to get his head around how we’re going to play the game and the detail in that,” he said.
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The All Blacks will play eight matches in South Africa, including four Tests against the Springboks.
Rennie had earmarked Mo’unga for the opening tour fixture in Cape Town against the Stormers, with a view to reintegrating him into the Test setup.
“But obviously, the [eligibility] criteria means he can’t do that,” he said. “We’re still hoping to get him in so he can get his head around things.”
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Rennie added that Mo’unga, whose last Test appearance came in the 2023 World Cup final, could still link up with the All Blacks during the July window, even if he is unable to play.
Rennie also revealed he had hoped to include veteran lock Brodie Retallick on the tour, but similar eligibility restrictions have ruled him out.
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Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour fixtures
Friday, 7 August: vs Stormers, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday, 11 August: vs Sharks, Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, 15 August: vs Vodacom Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 22 August: vs Springboks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Tuesday, 25 August: vs Lions, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, 29 August: vs Springboks, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday, 5 September: vs Springboks, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday 12 September: vs Springboks, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Photo: Toru Hanai/Getty Images
The post Rennie wanted Richie to face Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Coach Dave Rennie was eager for flyhalf Richie Mo’unga to start in the All Blacks’ opening Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour match of South Africa.
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