Rennie confirms All Blacks plans for South Africa tour, rules out Mo’unga for now

New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie has outlined the All Blacks’ plans for their upcoming South Africa tour and confirmed that playmaker Richie Mo’unga will not be included when the squad is named next month.

Tour build-up and squad plans

Rennie said the All Blacks were well advanced in planning for the series against the world champion Springboks and that selectors would name a 44-man squad for the tour. He told journalists the selectors already had a team pencilled in for the first Test of the four-match series.

Preparation matches

As part of their build-up, New Zealand will play domestic South African sides the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls before the first Test in Johannesburg on August 22, Rennie said. He added that every player would be given an early chance to push for Test selection.

Mo’unga’s immediate status

Rennie confirmed that Mo’unga, who has been New Zealand’s playmaker at the last two World Cups, will not feature when the coach names the touring squad. Under national union eligibility rules, Mo’unga has been out of contention since leaving to play club rugby in Japan in 2023 and remains ineligible until October, the coach said.

Rennie said he had accepted the situation but left open the possibility of an emergency call-up. He was quoted saying:

“He won’t be coming on that tour, so we’ll squash that. If a 10 got injured, then Richie’s an option for us to bring in.”

Rennie also defended Mo’unga’s readiness for international return, saying he had watched him in Japan and describing his recent form:

“I mean, I got to see him first hand in Japan in the last three years where he’s been phenomenal.”

Selection opportunities

The coach said the selectors had already “picked the first four squads for the first four games in Africa” and that there had been substantial thought about where they wanted to see players. He added:

“Everyone will get to play in that first week, so it’s an opportunity for everyone to push for places.”

The All Blacks’ tour planning and the early chances for squad members underline the importance Rennie places on preparation ahead of the opening Test in Johannesburg on August 22.