Dave Rennie has confirmed Richie Mo'unga will not be included in the 44-man All Blacks squad for next month's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks, ending speculation that the flyhalf could be fast-tracked back into contention.
Mo'unga remains ineligible under New Zealand Rugby's eligibility rules until October, when he completes a full season in the domestic provincial competition following three seasons with a Japanese club. The 32-year-old has since returned home and signed a contract through to the 2027 World Cup, but Rennie confirmed the rules will not be bent for the South Africa tour.
"He won't be coming on that tour, so we'll squash that," Rennie told journalists on Thursday. The coach added that Mo'unga remains an emergency option should a first-choice flyhalf be injured during the tour. "If a No.10 got injured, then Richie's an option for us to bring in. But for now he'll just get back and play and get himself in great nick, so if he gets an opportunity to come to Africa, he's ready to go."
Rennie expressed no doubts about Mo'unga's readiness when that time comes, having observed him closely while coaching a rival club in Japan. "I got to see him first-hand in Japan in the last three years, where he's been phenomenal."
The All Blacks' planning for the series is well advanced, with Rennie revealing that provisional squads have already been selected for all four fixtures. The tour opens with matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls before the first Test in Johannesburg on August 22, with the coach indicating every squad member will get game time in the opening provincial match to press their Test claims.