All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has revealed that Richie Mo\u2019unga could miss the Nations Championship due to the calf issue he sustained last week.<\/p>\n
The playmaker was pencilled in for the opening Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland but was ruled out due to an injury he picked up in training.<\/p>\n
Although Rennie<\/a> states that Mo\u2019unga<\/a> is \u201cprogressing well\u201d, the All Blacks<\/a> boss admits that he might not be fit enough to play in the games against Scotland, Wales and England.<\/p>\n McKenzie set for extended fly-half run?<\/p>\n Damian McKenzie once again starts at 10 in Sydney on Saturday and could therefore keep that role in the end-of-year encounters.<\/p>\n \u201cWe brought him (Mo\u2019unga) over, just so our medics can control the rehab. He\u2019s progressing well but that injury is potentially a six to eight weeker,\u201d Rennie told reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we got him back in five, which is possible \u2013 he\u2019s progressing pretty well \u2013 even that would mean he misses 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 maybe take him when he can\u2019t play for the first two or three.\u201d<\/p>\n Given that the All Blacks will likely be without Ruben Love and Mo\u2019unga in the Nations Championship, Rennie was asked why Josh Jacomb was not included in the 23.<\/p>\n Jacomb has been involved in the wider squad over the past couple of months, playing against the South African franchises during Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry tour, but he has yet to make his Test debut.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want consistency. We\u2019re not sure whether Richie\u2019s going to make it back in time for the end-of-year tour and Damian\u2019s only had one hit at 10,\u201d Rennie said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think the majority of the guys out there will get another run. We considered it. He\u2019s likely to tour at the end of the year and get his opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n