Dave Rennie has welcomed Richie Mo'unga back into the All Blacks fold after his first appearance in the black jersey since the 2023 World Cup final, while confirming that loosie Anton Segner will play no further part in the tour after undergoing surgery in Johannesburg.
Mo'unga joined the touring squad as cover following Billy Proctor's injury and featured against the Lions at Ellis Park, where New Zealand came from 35-17 down to win 41-35 through four unanswered second-half tries.
"He had a lot of nice touches," Rennie said of Mo'unga. "He'll be better for that time on the park, and it's not just about him jumping into the 10 jersey, but it's the connection with everyone around you that you may not have played a lot of footy with. We're really pleased with his contribution; he'd be better for it."
Segner, who was a late withdrawal from the matchday 23 ahead of the first Test, had keyhole surgery to clear an infection in his ankle joint. He will travel with the squad to Cape Town but is unavailable for all three remaining Tests. Rennie confirmed no replacement will be called in, saying the squad has sufficient loose forward depth now that the midweek fixtures are complete.
Ethan Blackadder's two-try performance strengthened his case for Test selection. "He was all over the park," Rennie said. "He carried a lot for us, made a lot of tackles and support play. He's got a big engine — he had a massive impact on the game tonight."
On the comeback itself, Rennie acknowledged the Lions' intent while crediting his side's composure. "At 35-17 we're under a bit of heat. I was really pleased with the composure and our ability to grind out that last 30 minutes and finish in front."