The thorny issue of Richie Mo’unga’s eligibility for the All Blacks remains in the spotlight, with head coach Dave Rennie today suggesting there is still a chance the first-five will travel with the squad to South Africa.
On arrival this afternoon in Christchurch, where New Zealand will play France in a Nations Championship Test on Saturday, Rennie revealed Mo’unga had been in camp with the All Blacks squad members not involved in the recent Super Rugby Pacific grand final.
Rennie has made no secret about wanting Mo’unga in his squad after the player’s return from three years in Japan, but current New Zealand Rugby eligibility rules mean Mo’unga cannot play for the All Blacks until he plays domestic rugby in this country.
There is a loophole, however, which means Mo’unga, New Zealand's top No.10 when he left after the 2023 World Cup, could get a call-up from Canterbury in the case of injury.
Asked about Mo’unga and whether he would be in camp with the All Blacks this week, Rennie confirmed the player already has been – in Auckland – and that he has a calf niggle.
When queried about the possibility of the 32-year-old going to South Africa in August, Rennie said: “We’re working through that. The current criteria means we can’t pick him directly but we’ll see what happens.”
The negotiations – presumably between Rennie and his high-performance staff and NZ Rugby - obviously remain secret but it is intriguing that the new head coach is continuing to push Mo’unga’s case.
NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster recently all but closed the door on Mo’unga’s return until after the South Africa tour.
Rennie has named Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Ruben Love as his first-fives in his squad of 34.
He confirmed that everyone was fit and available for the test at Te Kaha Stadium, including the recently injured Will Jordan, Tupou Vaa’i and Wallace Sititi. Jordan’s potential return comes after a persistent calf injury and the selectors will likely take a careful approach lest he suffer a recurrence.
The full squad came together last Wednesday and Rennie said they had combined well in settling on a simple attacking and defensive structure.
“We just want the guys to get out there and be really clear and play,” he said. “What we know is we’re going to have great weather. We’ll have a dry ball and that’s exciting.”
Hooker Codie Taylor said Rennie had already made an impression on the squad.
“He’s big on always being ready for something; whether that’s with the ball or without the ball,” Taylor said. “He doesn’t take mediocrity lightly.
“He definitely owns the room when he speaks but in a way that’s not too daunting – just in a way you respect.”
Taylor will almost certainly play a part in the Test but with rivals Samisoni Taukei’aho from the Chiefs and Asafo Aumua from the Hurricanes in such good form, making the match-day squad is not a given.
“There’s massive competition this year," he said. "Those two boys played amazingly in the final. That’s what you want in the All Blacks – you want people competing for jerseys and positions, it just makes the team better.
“We’ve talked a lot about service and what it means to be in this team. If you get the opportunity to wear the jersey you do it justice and if you don’t you do your best to prepare the boys that are. That’s been our focus.”
Meanwhile, Rennie was positive about the newly announced Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Tests against the Wallabies. The first of three confirmed Tests, held every second year in Brisbane, will be played next year.
"In a World Cup year I think it’s going to be good for us," he said. "We’re going to get our players a little bit earlier and prepare for a game which will give us a head start."
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