{"id":631517,"date":"2026-10-15T15:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T15:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/631517\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T15:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T15:58:12","slug":"all-blacks-v-wallabies-richie-mounga-uncertainty-leaves-damian-mckenzie-in-playmaking-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/631517\/","title":{"rendered":"All Blacks v Wallabies: Richie Mo\u2019unga uncertainty leaves Damian McKenzie in playmaking spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rennie could have handed Josh Jacomb his test debut this week but with the focus firmly on further improvements and doubling down on last week\u2019s dominant display, any thoughts of experimentation<\/a> were shelved.<\/p>\n

\"DamianDamian McKenzie retains the All Blacks’ No 10 jersey this weekend in Sydney. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n

Mo\u2019unga\u2019s injury status factored into Rennie giving McKenzie more time at No 10 as he will fulfil those duties when the All Blacks head north next month.<\/p>\n

Jacomb\u2019s chance is now likely to come in their second November test against Wales in Cardiff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want consistency,\u201d Rennie said. \u201cWe\u2019re not sure whether Richie is going to make it back in time for the end of year tour and Damian has only had one hit at 10. We considered it but he\u2019s [Jacomb] likely to tour at the end of the year and get his opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he outlined Mo\u2019unga\u2019s race against time to be selected next month, Rennie indicated the All Blacks would not select another first five with McKenzie, Beauden Barrett and Jacomb available at this stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe brought him over here so our medics can control the rehab. He\u2019s progressing well but that injury is potentially six-to-eight weeks. If we got him back in five, which is possible, even then he would miss the first couple of games on tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to weigh up where he\u2019s at and whether we can afford to take him when he can\u2019t play for the first two or three.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the Bledisloe banked, Rennie\u2019s selection approach this week could be cast as conservative after making three starting changes and five more on the bench.<\/p>\n

Three of those were injury-enforced with Leroy Carter, Anton Segner and Asafo Aumua ruled out.<\/p>\n

\"AntonAnton Segner was ruled out of this weekend’s test after a head knock at Eden Park. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n

A 5-3 record this year, however, demands the All Blacks continue to progress from their torrid South African tour.<\/p>\n

Last week the All Blacks harnessed the expectation and pressure weighing on their shoulders following three successive losses to the Springboks \u2013 as well as the need to preserve fortress Eden Park and retain the Bledisloe.<\/p>\n

This week they are attempting to replicate that same edge by reinforcing standards and selecting their best available team that also features a stacked bench containing Timoci Tavatavanawai\u2019s destructive qualities for the first time this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve put a lot of time into making sure the mindset is right,\u201d Rennie said. \u201cWe talk a lot about black standard. We did a lot of good things last week but we can be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Retaining the same starting loose forwards, alongside recalling Fabian Holland to form the All Blacks\u2019 best locking combination with Scott Barrett, signals the All Blacks\u2019 intent.<\/p>\n

Rennie resisted the urge to hand Shannon Frizell his first start since the 2023 World Cup in favour of rewarding Tupou Vaa\u2019i for his impressive performance last week.<\/p>\n

\"TupouTupou Vaa’i remains on the blindside for the All Blacks in Sydney this week. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

In Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Ethan Blackadder and Segner\u2019s collective absence, Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi gets his first chance off the bench under Rennie after absorbing messaging to mitigate his penalties at the breakdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cTupou had his best game in the six jersey so we wanted to build on that. Wallace Sititi was excellent. We\u2019ll try and get a bit more out of Shannon in the weekend but he\u2019s still building. We definitely threw him starting around but we\u2019re happy with the group we\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n

Josh Moorby<\/a> returning on the left wing to replace the injured Carter is the only backline change, and ensures the All Blacks can again leverage Jordie Barrett and Cam Roigard\u2019s world-class influence.<\/p>\n

In short, there\u2019s no let-up in sight for the further depleted Wallabies. <\/p>\n

Rennie expects the Wallabies to harness their hurt, but, after losing their starting 10-12 duo, Ben Donaldson and Len Ikitau, to injuries and shuffling their squad, the All Blacks should be too strong from the outset before unleashing a series of weapons from the bench.<\/p>\n

Declan Meredith starts at No 10 for the Wallabies with rookie Western Force playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – the 22-year-old three tests into his career – to debut from the bench. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re too good a side to lie down. They\u2019re proud men. Back at home in front of a massive crowd they\u2019ll be highly motivated. Their loose forward trio would be as good as any country in the world. We\u2019re expecting a response but we\u2019ve talked about us trying to take our game to another level. If we get that right, the skillset will follow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe All Blacks beat the Wallabies at Eden Park to retain the Bledisloe Cup. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n

If the All Blacks generate anything close to the same front foot platform and speed of ball they savoured in the second half at Eden Park, a 13th successive win against the Wallabies will follow.<\/p>\n

Ominously, the All Blacks have lost one of their last 11 games at Accor Stadium, the scene for this weekend\u2019s rematch. <\/p>\n

Rennie\u2019s selections set the expectation for another commanding performance as the All Blacks seek to lay down another statement before vastly tougher tests to come this year. <\/p>\n

All Blacks: 1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor (c), 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa\u2019i, 7. Peter Lakai, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Josh Moorby, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Beauden Barrett.<\/p>\n

Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Shannon Frizell, 20. Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23. Rieko Ioane.<\/p>\n

Wallabies: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Josh Nasser, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Jeremy Williams, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson (c), 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Declan Meredith, 11. Harry Potter, 12. Isaac Henry, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14. Max Jorgensen, 15. Tom Wright.<\/p>\n

Bench: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Massimo De Lutiis, 19. Josh Canham, 20. Carlo Tizzano, 21. Kalani Thomas, 22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23. Filipo Daugunu.<\/p>\n

Liam Napier<\/a> is a senior sports journalist and rugby correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Listen to Elliott Smith\u2019s live commentary on Newstalk ZB Sport and iHeartRadio, or join the Alternative Commentary Collective on iHeartRadio and Radio Hauraki.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rennie could have handed Josh Jacomb his test debut this week but with the focus firmly on further…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":631518,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[5263,8136,69827,78,7973,20409,61340,215450,3607,111,139,69,232634,13556,213,13172,1734,5619,34432],"class_list":["post-631517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-all","tag-blacks","tag-damian","tag-in","tag-leaves","tag-liam","tag-mckenzie","tag-mounga","tag-napier","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-playmaking","tag-richie","tag-sports","tag-spotlight","tag-sydney","tag-uncertainty","tag-wallabies"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=631517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631517\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/631518"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=631517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=631517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=631517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}