Mo'unga returns to All Blacks fold
Richie Mo'unga will link up with the All Blacks in Johannesburg on Friday after New Zealand Rugby confirmed his call-up as a replacement for the injured Billy Proctor. The 56-cap flyhalf, who spent the past three years in Japan, became eligible for selection after returning home and turning out for Canterbury, guiding his province to a 19-15 victory over Otago to claim the Ranfurly Shield for a record 18th time.
Proctor's tour ended prematurely following scans that revealed a shoulder blade fracture sustained in the 38-21 win over the Stormers in Cape Town. The injury, which does not require surgery, will keep the 27-year-old centre out for approximately 10 to 12 weeks, ruling him out of the remainder of the campaign.
"We really feel for Billy. He has had a great season, so this is frustrating for him. It is the harsh reality of our game," head coach Dave Rennie said. "Richie is the obvious choice as a replacement. His job now is to get in and learn our systems, get his head around the detail and earn the right to play."
McKenzie injury scare proves minor
Meanwhile, Damian McKenzie's ankle concern appears less serious than initially feared. The fullback was withdrawn in the 33rd minute of Tuesday's 54-0 demolition of the Sharks in Durban after landing awkwardly on a high ball in the opening exchanges. Rennie confirmed the decision to remove McKenzie was precautionary.
"He just twisted his ankle when he came down on that high ball in the first minute," Rennie explained. "He was running around. We had it strapped, but it was just a little bit ginger. So we decided just to play it safe. So he's not too bad. We'd expect him to be fine for the first test."
Mo'unga's arrival adds depth to a flyhalf group that already includes McKenzie, though his immediate challenge will be absorbing the All Blacks' systems ahead of the opening Test at Ellis Park on 22 August. With one final warm-up fixture against the Bulls still to come, Rennie faces selection decisions across multiple positions as his squad prepares for the first instalment of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.