Why are the All Blacks flying Richie Mo’unga to South Africa?

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Richie Mo’unga is widely regarded as an All Blacks legend, but New Zealand’s decision to fly him to South Africa after Billy Proctor’s tour-ending injury raises questions, particularly because head coach Dave Rennie already has several flyhalves in his squad.

Mo’unga was not originally eligible for the tour when Rennie announced his squad because of New Zealand’s strict selection criteria, which limit selection to players based locally.

The former Crusaders playmaker had been playing in Japan until recently, but returned to appear for Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship (NPC). That made him eligible for selection once again.

However, the All Blacks already have Ruben Love, Josh Jacomb and Beauden Barrett on tour as flyhalves, while Damian McKenzie can also cover the number 10 position.

That leaves uncertainty over exactly where Mo’unga fits into the group and whether he is likely to play at flyhalf during the tour.

For now, the answer appears to be no. Rennie offered an indication of Mo’unga’s immediate role when announcing that the 56-Test veteran would replace Proctor.

“Richie is the obvious choice as a replacement. His job now is to get in and learn our systems, get his head around the detail and earn the right to play,” Rennie said.

Mo’unga is not expected to feature against the Bulls because the match comes too soon after his arrival. He is also unlikely to be involved from the replacements bench.

That leaves only one midweek fixture on the tour, against the Lions, and it will take place after the first Test. Mo’unga therefore has a limited period in which to “learn our systems” and “earn the right to play”, as Rennie put it.

The presence of Love is another factor. It would be a surprise if Mo’unga displaced the current first-choice All Blacks number 10, given the investment Rennie has made in the Hurricanes playmaker.

Love has continued to develop with every appearance in the famous black jersey and was particularly impressive against the Sharks on Tuesday. In difficult conditions, he controlled New Zealand’s attacking play and delivered a composed kicking performance both from hand and at goal.

Rennie has also selected Josh Jacomb, who is viewed as a young player with a future at international level.

Mo’unga could provide cover at fullback, a position he played earlier in his career, although he has never worn the number 15 jersey for New Zealand. Jordie Barrett has established himself at inside centre, while Mo’unga has also never played number 12 for the All Blacks.

One explanation for the decision could be the wealth of experience Mo’unga brings. He has won 56 Tests and scored 464 points for New Zealand, giving Rennie access to a level of international knowledge that cannot be quickly acquired.

Former All Blacks coach Todd Blackadder, who worked with Mo’unga in Japan, had questioned whether the veteran flyhalf was the correct replacement for Proctor.

“I think the rugby pundits really want to see Richie over there,” Blackadder told Newstalk ZB.

“He’s a predominant No 10, and they’ve already got four over there. I just think about it pragmatically; do they really need another No 10? They’re probably going to have to call in a midfielder.”

“My opinion would be that doesn’t really solve a problem if they take another 10 over there because none of those 10s can really cover any position other than 15. So why would you bring Richie over? I don’t think that would make sense as far as I’m concerned.”

David Havili was another possible option. He enjoyed an outstanding Super Rugby season with the Crusaders, has won 30 Tests and last played for New Zealand in 2024. He can cover inside centre and fullback as well as midfield.

Havili would have been a more natural like-for-like replacement, although only as a short-term solution. He is due to go to Japan and would therefore be unavailable for potential selection at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Mo’unga may also be a temporary answer, but Rennie has previously made no secret of his admiration for the experienced number 10 since taking charge of the All Blacks.

There is a possible parallel with South Africa’s decision during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, when head coach Rassie Erasmus called up flyhalf Handre Pollard after hooker Malcolm Marx was injured. The move initially raised eyebrows, but Pollard’s goal-kicking played a major role in helping the Springboks win the tournament.

Perhaps Rennie is considering a similar approach. If New Zealand are chasing the series in the coming weeks, Mo’unga could yet be called upon.

Whatever happens, the Greatest Rivalry is set to keep rugby supporters around the world watching closely as two of the best sides in the game meet across four Test matches.

Craig Taylor is the Digital Content Editor of KickOff Rugby.