Dan Carter picks who should be the All Blacks fly-half, snubs Mo’unga

Friday, 14 August 2026 at 08:15

bySteven Smith

All Blacks legend Dan Carter believes Ruben Love is the man currently in possession of New Zealand’s famous No.10 jersey – despite Richie Mo’unga’s blockbuster return to the squad.

The battle to start at fly-half has taken another dramatic twist after Mo’unga was officially recalled to the All Blacks for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.

The 56-cap playmaker has been drafted into Dave Rennie’s squad in South Africa following the injury to centre Billy Proctor, who suffered a fractured shoulder blade against the Stormers.

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Mo’unga will arrive in Johannesburg on Friday and joins a stacked group of playmakers that already includes Love, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Josh Jacomb.

However, Carter’s previous verdict suggests Love deserves to remain at the front of the queue.

Carter backs Love

Speaking about the All Blacks’ fly-half battle earlier this year, Carter refused to crown New Zealand’s long-term No.10 but highlighted the opportunity for one player to take ownership of the shirt.

At the time, Carter said the competition – including Mo’unga’s impending return – was a major positive for the All Blacks, while challenging one of the contenders to effectively make the jersey their own.

Since then, Love appears to have done exactly that.

The 25-year-old has been handed the reins by Rennie and impressed during the Nations Championship before producing another strong display in the 54-0 demolition of the Sharks.

Carter now believes Love is effectively in possession of the jersey, although the two-time World Cup winner has stressed that the battle remains far from settled heading towards the 2027 World Cup.

Mo’unga returns

Mo’unga’s arrival nevertheless adds serious pressure.

The 32-year-old has not represented New Zealand since starting the 2023 World Cup final defeat against South Africa, having spent the following seasons playing in Japan.

He regained his eligibility after returning home and featuring for Canterbury in the NPC, with Rennie describing him as the “obvious choice” to replace Proctor.

But Rennie has made clear that reputation alone will not earn Mo’unga an immediate Test recall.

His task is to learn the new systems and “earn the right to play”, with the head coach indicating that Mo’unga is unlikely to feature in the opening Test against the Springboks. Instead, he could get game time against the Lions three days later as he begins pushing his claim.

For now, that leaves Love with the inside track – and the backing of arguably the greatest All Blacks No.10 of them all.

LATEST RUGBY NEWS

All Blacks Handed NIGHTMARE Route to 2027 Rugby World Cup Final

With the competition expanding to 24 teams and introducing a Round of 16 for the first time, New Zealand can already map out their possible path to the Webb Ellis Cup — and it is packed with danger.

Pool A: A Trans-Tasman Showdown

New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, creating one of the marquee clashes of the group stage. The All Blacks and Wallabies are expected to battle for top spot, with the pool winner earning a potentially more favourable route through the knockout stages.

Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each pool automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams across all pools also advance.

For New Zealand, the objective will be simple: finish first in Pool A.

Round of 16: A Third-Placed Opponent Awaits

If the All Blacks top Pool A, they will face one of the tournament's best third-placed teams in the Round of 16.

Based on the draw, that opponent would come from Pools C, E or F. Possible challengers could include:

On paper, this should represent a manageable first knockout assignment for New Zealand.

Quarter-Final: Potential Clash with South Africa

The bracket reveals the first major obstacle on New Zealand's path.

Should the All Blacks win Pool A and progress through the Round of 16, they are likely to face the winner of Pool B in the quarter-finals. Defending champions South Africa are overwhelming favourites to top that group, which also contains Italy, Georgia and Romania.

That means the Rugby Championship rivals could be set for another World Cup knockout classic, with the Springboks standing between New Zealand and the final four.

Given South Africa's recent dominance and World Cup pedigree, many observers view this as one of the most anticipated potential quarter-finals of the tournament.

Semi-Final: France Looms Large

If New Zealand overcome South Africa, the likely semi-final opponent would emerge from the opposite side of the bracket containing Pool E.

France are strong favourites to win Pool E, which also includes Japan, Samoa and the United States.

Les Bleus are expected to navigate their side of the draw and could set up a blockbuster semi-final against the All Blacks. A meeting between two of world rugby's most talented squads would undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the tournament.

Potential Final Opponents

Should New Zealand reach the final, several heavyweight nations could await.

The opposite half of the draw is expected to be led by:

Ireland
Scotland
Argentina
England

England's route appears favourable if they top Pool F, while Ireland and Scotland will again meet in the pool stage before potentially making deep runs into the knockout rounds.

Argentina, meanwhile, remain one of the dark horses after their impressive performances in recent World Cups.

Predicted Route to the Final

Assuming the major nations win their pools, the All Blacks' most likely pathway would be:

Pool Stage

Australia
Other Pool A opponents

Round of 16

Best third-placed qualifier (from Pools C, E or F)

Quarter-Final

South Africa (Pool B winner)

Semi-Final

France (Pool E winner)

Final

Ireland, England, Scotland or Argentina

Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!