Speaking on Newstalk ZB’s Sportstalk, Mo’unga said he was grateful to be part of the team.
“This has been a plan for a long time, to come back and put my bid in for the jersey,” Mo’unga said.
“I’m a real competitor and I want to be at my best for this team. Regardless of the situation with Ruben, I’m willing to do that and keep that same energy.
“I’m really looking forward to the next couple of weeks and what they hold, and I’m just focusing on making sure I play some good footy.”
Mo’unga admits it was an adjustment returning to the All Blacks fold after a few years.
He played the tour match against the Lions before starting in Baltimore.
“I came back into the team and I met half the team for the first time,” Mo’unga said.
“As well as meeting teammates for the first time, meeting new coaching staff and just the different way the All Blacks are operating now, was really good to get in and learn.
“You’ve got to be operating at a really high level to be part of this team and that’s the thing that remains the same.”
In his one test, Mo’unga failed to stamp his mark, but Rennie was quick to defend his performance on Tuesday.
“We just weren’t accurate enough in Baltimore to maybe allow Richie to have a bigger impact on the game,” Rennie said.
“If you’re constantly turning the ball over, the game’s slower and, obviously, it was nice to give him a bit of time to run the ship and I think he will be better for it.”
Attention now turns to Eden Park next Saturday where the All Blacks will look to defend their unbeaten record since 1994 at the stadium while snapping a three-game losing streak.
Richie Mo’unga. Photo / Photosport
The Wallabies head to the match after a dramatic 42-38 win over the Springboks.
All eyes will be on Mo’unga on October 10, but he was careful not to assume the starting role was his.
“With Ruben out it’s still not clear cut that I’m the one to do the job,” Mo’unga said. “But the one thing that he has given us is free range and licence to play what we see.
“He likes a game that’s high tempo and that we express ourselves and use our skills to do that.”
He also paid tribute to Love, who he contacted following the injury, stressing that the two are teammates before competitors.
“I’m gutted to see that happen to him and wishing him speedy recovery,” Mo’unga said.
“But a true competitor and a true teammate he is. He messaged back saying he’s backing the boys and believing we can get the job done the next couple weeks.”
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.