All Blacks coach faces selection puzzle as Mo'unga returns for South Africa tests
Fly-half Richie Mo'unga has been called back to the New Zealand squad, forcing coach Dave Rennie to rethink his lineup for the four-test series against South Africa.
Richie Mo'unga, the former All Blacks fly-half who left for Japan after the 2023 World Cup final, has been summoned back to the New Zealand squad following a shoulder injury to centre Billy Proctor. His return comes just before the team meets the Springboks in Pretoria and then heads to Johannesburg for the first of four tests. Coach Dave Rennie expressed sympathy for Proctor’s situation and highlighted Mo'unga as the obvious stand-in, urging him to quickly absorb the team’s systems.
Despite Mo'unga’s recall, Ruben Love has cemented his role as the first-choice fly-half in the July matches and is likely to start at Ellis Park. Veteran Beauden Barrett and versatile Damian McKenzie also offer options, although McKenzie is hoping to recover from an ankle injury sustained in a recent midweek game.
Why it matters
The recall adds a high-profile player to the All Blacks, potentially reshaping the lineup for a key series against the world champions.
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