Dave Rennie reveals Richie Mo’unga plans ahead of All Blacks clash with Bulls

Friday, 14 August 2026 at 15:14

byFaith Mashiya

By Faith Mashiya on RUCK Debut

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has shed light onto the plans, behind brining Richie Mo’unga into the squad ahead of New Zealand’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against South Africa.

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Mo’unga was called up as a replacement for the injured Billy Proctor, with Rennie keen to use the experienced All Blacks fly-half’s return to familiarise him with the team's structures before the Test series begins. This return marks the end of Mo'unga's All Blacks exodus, having not featured in the black jersey since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final.

Mo'unga headed out to Japan for the past few years, after penning a multi-year contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus. The fly half has since made a couple of appearances for Canterbury in the NPC, as his road to the 2027 Rugby World Cup squad officialy gets underway.

Richie Mo’unga arrives to bolster All Blacks squad

Mo’unga is the headline addition to the All Blacks squad after Proctor suffered a shoulder injury during the tour. Rennie explained that New Zealand had considered whether they had sufficient midfield cover before deciding that bringing Mo’unga into the squad was the best option.

“He's a very good player. I'm not sure when he'll play Test footy for us but coming in now and spending time in the environment will accelerate that opportunity,” Rennie said.

The coach indicated that Mo’unga is unlikely to feature in the opening Test. However, Mo'unga could see game time against the Lions following the Springbok opener, as he looks to build his case for further involvement amidst a stacked fly-half pecking order of Ruben Love, Beuaden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Josh Jacomb.

Rennie highlighted the value of having Mo’unga spend time within the All Blacks environment and learn their structures before being thrown straight into Test rugby.

“By the time Richie arrives, the first three provincial games are gone... him coming in and immersing himself, getting his head around our structures and the detail within that, would be really beneficial.”

All Blacks frustrated by scrum interpretations

Rennie also expressed his frustration with the interpretation of the scrum laws during the tour. The All Blacks have raised concerns over referees placing increased emphasis on the “break foot”, with Rennie questioning whether officials can adequately monitor every aspect of the scrum while focusing on that particular technical detail.

“If you're looking at break foot, you're not necessarily seeing angles and elbows and all the other things that are pretty important to a stable scrum.”

Rennie suggested there had been a noticeable increase in scrum resets since the emphasis on the break foot, despite scrums appearing more stable during the Six Nations. The All Blacks coach confirmed that discussions with match officials would continue.

Damian McKenzie and Cam Roigard injury updates

Rennie also provided updates on several players ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Bulls. Cameron Roigard was expected to have a limited role from the bench but picked up a niggle. However, he is expected to be fit for New Zealand's opening Test.

Damian McKenzie will miss the Bulls clash because of an ankle issue but is also expected to recover in time for the Test series. Captain Codie Taylor has recovered from his own injury concerns and will lead the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld.

Rennie has used the opening provincial fixtures to rotate his squad and manage workloads, with performances also giving players an opportunity to stake their claim for a Test jersey.

“It's good competition. That's what we're looking for... There's a number of spots where performances this weekend could tilt our thinking.”

Rennie confident All Blacks can handle Loftus altitude

The Bulls clash will take place at Loftus Versfeld, with the altitude and traditionally passionate home support providing another challenge for New Zealand. However, Rennie played down the significance of the altitude, pointing to his previous experiences of teams successfully managing the conditions.

“Both sides are going to be hurting. So, yeah, we'll back our conditioning.”

The All Blacks will be hoping their preparation allows them to maintain their intensity throughout the match as they continue building towards the opening Test against the Springboks.

Rieko Ioane adds further versatility

Rieko Ioane has also impressed since joining the touring squad, with Rennie praising the impact of the 90-cap All Black.

Primarily brought into the squad as a winger, Ioane's ability to cover centre gives New Zealand another option as they deal with injuries and manage their combinations. “He's been excellent since he's come in... he's dynamic with the ball in hand.” Rennie said.

That versatility could prove particularly valuable as Rennie finalises his combinations ahead of the Test series.

All Blacks ready for physical Bulls challenge

The All Blacks know they will face a significant physical challenge against the Bulls, who have established themselves as one of the strongest sides in the United Rugby Championship. Anton Lienert-Brown highlighted the variety in the South African game and the depth available to the hosts.

“They've got a lot of variety in their game and, yeah, just so much depth. But, yeah, what hasn't changed is that every time you run out, there are big bodies on the other side.”

Tyrel Lomax echoed those concerns ahead of what should be a significant set-piece battle.

“We know that they're going to come pretty hard in that area. So, yeah, we've just got to front up.”

With places in the Test side still up for grabs, Saturday's clash could provide several All Blacks with their final opportunity to impress Rennie before the Springboks series begins.