Analysis: Coach Dave Rennie chuckled when asked whether the No.10 could replace the midfielder, but talks have almost certainly begun, writes Patrick McKendry.
Billy Proctor’s departure from the All Blacks' tour of South Africa due to a shoulder fracture has opened the door for Richie Mo’unga’s return to the black jersey.
Proctor suffered his injury during the second half of the All Blacks’ 38-21 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town and while he is a midfielder and Mo’unga a first-five, there is little doubt that head coach Dave Rennie has begun negotiations to get Mo’unga on a flight.
The All Blacks are not short of midfielders, with Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea – Rennie’s top midfield duo – due to start against the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday – and Anton Lienert-Brown and Timoci Tavatavanawai also in the mix.
The former started against the Stormers, and was yellow carded in the first half, while the latter is on the bench to play the Sharks.
Rieko Ioane, who scored a try on the right wing on Saturday morning in his first game time for the All Blacks since last November, also has vast experience in the midfield.
Asked if Proctor, 27, would be replaced, Rennie said: “We’re working through that process.”
Asked whether Mo’unga, who helped Canterbury take the Ranfurly Shield off Otago in Dunedin yesterday, was in the mix, Rennie chuckled and said: “We’ll work through that process.”
Any replacement will require sign-off by New Zealand Rugby, and Mo’unga’s will likely require specific clearance from the board, who stood firm against Rennie’s request to name the 32-year-old in the touring squad due to his recent arrival home after three years in Japan.
But, now that a case can be made for Mo’unga to travel and presumably be in the mix for the final midweek match of the tour – against the Lions in Johannesburg three days after the first Test in the city on August 23 – the board will be expected to take a more pragmatic approach.
After two matches in the NPC, Mo'unga has presumably done his time.
It would be difficult to make a case for any other player to replace Proctor, apart from possibly David Havili, overlooked by the All Blacks last year and who has recently signed a contract with Japanese club Toshiba.
By any measure, picking a player who has committed his future overseas rather than one who will be an integral part of the All Blacks’ World Cup squad next year would border on the bizarre.
Ruben Love will start at No.10 against the Sharks and is by some distance the All Blacks’ current best in the position, with Rennie saying he would make a further change there for the match against the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning.
That presumably means Beauden Barrett, who had a mixed game in the No.10 jersey against the Stormers, will be in the frame again. Damian McKenzie, who started the three July Tests at fullback and will start there again against the Sharks, is probably less of a possibility.
Rennie said he would have played outside back Will Jordan against the Sharks but he is recovering from a “crook back”. Jordan should be available to play the Bulls, Rennie said.
The head coach is expecting improvements across the field in Durban and particularly his side’s ability to take the high ball. “I don’t think we caught one [against the Stormers], so that’s going to be important for us,” he said drily.
His men’s performance in the first five minutes of the game at DHL Stadium highlighted their danger when they play with tempo and it was no surprise to see the Stormers attempt to slow the game at every opportunity.
It was something Rennie touched on before the tour when asked by 1News about the feedback he would be giving the match officials and it will likely be an issue throughout the tour.
The time taken to set a lineout is one of Rennie’s frustrations. Asked whether a “shot clock” arrangement could speed up set pieces, he replied: “It would be easier for the referee to manage. We could put a clock on a few things at the moment.”
All Blacks team to play Sharks
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Luke Jacobson (Captain), 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Kyle Preston, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Fehi Fineanganofo, 15. Damian McKenzie. Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Ethan Blackadder, 20. Semisi Ta'eiloa, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23. Emoni Narawa.
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