Canterbury will be without first-five Richie Mo'unga for their Mitre 10 Cup semi-final against North Harbour tomorrow, with the young playmaker remaining with the All Blacks ahead of their third Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Mo'unga, 23, was called into the All Blacks' camp earlier in the week as cover for Beauden Barrett, and with the superstar first-five flying home to New Zealand after a head knock against South Africa two weeks ago, the youngster will remain with the squad on stand-by for Lima Sopoaga and Damian McKenzie.
Speaking to media yesterday, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirmed the news, although saying that his original plans had been foiled with Barrett's condition.
"He is going to stay because Beauden [Barrett] is going to go home," Hansen said.
"We will need some back-up, so we have to revise the plan of sending Richie home. Because Beauden is going home instead."
Mo'unga is the Mitre 10 Cup's leading point scorer this season with 135, rookie first-five Brett Cameron will replace him in Canterbury's line-up.
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