Former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson has reacted to Richie Mo\u2019unga\u2019s performance off the bench for Canterbury in the NPC.<\/p>\n
The Friday night fixture against Auckland was the fly-half\u2019s first game in New Zealand since leaving Aotearoa to sign for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
He came off the bench for Canterbury and scored what proved to be a match-winning try as they clinched a 38-31 win in their first NPC appearance at the One NZ Stadium.<\/p>\n
In doing so, Mo\u2019unga became eligible for All Blacks selection once again, as it was a self-imposed requirement of NZ Rugby that he had to represent a New Zealand team before becoming eligible again.<\/p>\n
Dave Rennie and his squad have already touched down in South Africa<\/a> \u2013 minus Ardie Savea \u2013 for Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry Series but the All Blacks boss could call on Mo\u2019unga if there is an injury in the squad.<\/p>\n Disappointment from Richie Mo\u2019unga\u2019s return<\/p>\n Ruben Love, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie and Josh Jacomb are the current options at Rennie\u2019s disposal for the All Blacks\u2019 number 10 jersey, with the former starting in the role in all three of the Nations Championship matches in July. The head coach confirmed that Barrett would be starting the opening touring match against the Stormers.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a chance,\u201d Rennie said last week when asked whether Mo\u2019unga<\/a> could feature on the tour. \u201cHe will play for Canterbury this weekend, and then once he\u2019s done that, if we had an injury at 10, then he\u2019s an option to come in.\u201d<\/p>\n After his heroics for Canterbury, legend All Blacks<\/a> winger Jeff Wilson has expressed his one disappointment but was quick to add that Mo\u2019unga is an \u2018insurance policy\u2019 for Rennie if he needs him.<\/p>\n \u201cI was disappointed he wasn\u2019t starting. He\u2019s a player for me that needs to get as much time as possible as quickly as possible,\u201d Wilson<\/a> said on Sky Sports NZ\u2019s Breakdown show.<\/p>\n \u201cAndrew Knewstubb did a great job at 10. Canterbury came out of the gates really fast, looked really sharp, but Auckland looked good as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it came down to it, they needed a moment from Richie Mo\u2019unga, and they got it; the more time he gets on the park, the closer he\u2019ll be to being available if needed.\u201d<\/p>\n The show ran a poll while discussing whether Mo\u2019unga should be added to the squad, and at the time of Wilson\u2019s comments, 73% of the public said that Rennie should leave the squad as is.<\/p>\n Richie Mo\u2019unga coy on possible All Blacks return for Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry tour<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s interesting that poll,\u201d Wilson continued.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that people love what the All Blacks have done. They like what Ruben Love has done in the 10 jersey, and they\u2019re going, \u2018I don\u2019t want to mess with that right now\u2019. Remember, he\u2019s insurance. He\u2019s great insurance to have, but he has to play. Put him on the park, start him if you\u2019re going to get him up to speed.\u201d<\/p>\n Returning All Black Richie Mo\u2019unga scores winner in provincial return despite \u2018shaky\u2019 start<\/a><\/p>\n Mils Muliaina\u2019s verdict<\/p>\n Former full-back Mils Muliaina joined Wilson on the show and agreed that Mo\u2019unga wasn\u2019t needed in the squad right now. However, he was impressed with the playmaker\u2019s cameo for Canterbury.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t step up in the more traditional way that he usually does, right? He actually went and picked the ball up from a pick and go, and that\u2019s how he scored,\u201d he remarked.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a player whose presence is massive. He didn\u2019t really do too much, and he didn\u2019t need to. That\u2019s the class of him; he goes in thinking, \u2018Okay, well, I just need to run the game.\u2019 Then a moment arises, bang, he takes it.<\/p>\n \u201cTo your point, I think the public is comfortable with where the All Blacks side is. Ruben Love has done a heck of a job, but it\u2019s great to have that competition as well with Richie coming back and some other youngsters who are starting to put their hands up.\u201d<\/p>\n Wilson concluded: \u201cWe want to see Josh Jacomb; he\u2019ll get that chance whether it\u2019s at 10 or 15 \u2013 I\u2019ll be very interested to see where that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n