All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson has urged New Zealand Rugby not to stand in Dave Rennie’s way when it comes to selecting Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell.
Both players will return home following the conclusion of the Japan Rugby League One season, but under the governing body’s eligibility laws, neither will be available for Test rugby until October.
Mo’unga and Frizell have signed deals with the Crusaders and Highlanders respectively ahead of the 2027 Super Rugby campaign, but they will be back in New Zealand ahead of the 2026 Nations Championship in July.
Not available for Springboks series
However, NZR will not currently allow head coach Rennie to select either player for the July Tests or the Greatest Rivalry series with the Springboks.
Wilson wants that to change and hopes the All Blacks’ new boss will be able to pick the returning fly-half and back-rower.
“We’ve signed them for one reason and that’s to improve the performance of the All Blacks. How they do that and when they do that should be as soon as possible,” he said on The Breakdown.
“Playing an arbitrary 40 minutes of NPC rugby does not help you get ready to play for the All Blacks.
“As soon as they are fit and available and in New Zealand, they need to be involved with the All Blacks, whether it be in the squad that goes to South Africa or sitting outside in preparation in the middle of the year in July.”
Former All Blacks back-rower Steven Bates agreed with Wilson, insisting that the return of Mo’unga and Frizell will improve the quality and depth of the All Blacks squad.
“They’ve come home for a reason, they’ve come home to make us better. Do we want to be better as a rugby nation? I think the answer is yes,” Bates said.
“Rens or the powers that be have decided that these two makes us better so chuck them in there and make us better.”
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Another ex-New Zealand forward, James Parsons, was less committal, suggesting that form and availability will dictate whether NZR will allow Rennie to select that duo.
“History has shown that this has happened before and the difference is they’ve signed back to New Zealand. Injuries and how Super Rugby finishes, I think this question will answer itself,” Parsons said.
‘Exceptions have been made already’
But Wilson was insistent that Rennie should be allowed to pick whoever he likes if they are contracted to NZ Rugby.
“Exceptions have been made already. Georgia Ponsonby, who started at hooker for the Black Ferns, has had an interim contract given to her because they had a couple of injuries at hooker.
“The sooner we know that, the sooner everyone knows that, you can get on with focusing on what’s important and you start talking about combinations and form and how you’re going to approach it.
“Right now, he’s not [in my starting XV] but what he can do is improve and play his way into it. You’ve got to remember there are midweek games and there are games against provincial teams in the South African trip.
“You’ve got 18 months so yes we’ve got these young players that have had an opportunity recently but if you lose someone young, I’d like them to be replaced with someone experienced.
“You’re not going to be able to blood another young player in the next 18 months.”