All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo'unga and an inset of head coach Dave Rennie.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has revealed that Richie Mo’unga could miss the Nations Championship due to the calf issue he sustained last week.
The playmaker was pencilled in for the opening Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland but was ruled out due to an injury he picked up in training.
Although Rennie states that Mo’unga is “progressing well”, the All Blacks boss admits that he might not be fit enough to play in the games against Scotland, Wales and England.
McKenzie set for extended fly-half run?
Damian McKenzie once again starts at 10 in Sydney on Saturday and could therefore keep that role in the end-of-year encounters.
“We brought him (Mo’unga) over, just so our medics can control the rehab. He’s progressing well but that injury is potentially a six to eight weeker,” Rennie told reporters.
“If we got him back in five, which is possible – he’s progressing pretty well – even that would mean he misses the first couple of games on tour.
“We’ve got to weigh up where he’s at and whether we can afford to maybe take him when he can’t play for the first two or three.”
Given that the All Blacks will likely be without Ruben Love and Mo’unga in the Nations Championship, Rennie was asked why Josh Jacomb was not included in the 23.
Jacomb has been involved in the wider squad over the past couple of months, playing against the South African franchises during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, but he has yet to make his Test debut.
“We want consistency. We’re not sure whether Richie’s going to make it back in time for the end-of-year tour and Damian’s only had one hit at 10,” Rennie said.
“We think the majority of the guys out there will get another run. We considered it. He’s likely to tour at the end of the year and get his opportunity.”
All Blacks’ fly-half options
Even shorn of Love and Mo’unga, the All Blacks still have plenty of fly-half options, which means they may not need to bring in another playmaker for the Nations Championship.
“I’m not sure if we will take another 10, we would still have three within the group, but it is an option. It may end up being someone who gives us a bit more versatility and covers a few more spots for us,” Rennie said.
“We do get to take a couple extra on top of the 34 we have here. We had a meeting this morning working through the best-case scenario and trying to get clarity on the guys who are here and who of that group might be available.
“It will become clear. Once we get beyond this weekend and get an idea of hopefully no one injured, we will get an understanding of who’s available and then what that make-up looks like.”