Richie Mo'unga to miss New Zealand's series against South Africa

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Richie Mo’unga will not be selected for the upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against South Africa, despite growing speculation over a possible early return.

Mo’unga has returned to New Zealand rugby after his spell in Japan, but remains unavailable under New Zealand Rugby eligibility rules.

The 32-year-old fly-half, who guided the All Blacks at the last two Rugby World Cups, must complete a domestic provincial campaign before becoming eligible for national selection again. His return to All Blacks contention is therefore expected from October.

Rennie said Mo’unga would not be part of the initial squad for the South Africa series, making it clear that the playmaker’s comeback will not be fast-tracked.

“He won’t be coming on that tour, so we’ll squash that,” said Rennie.

“If a No.10 got injured, then Richie’s an option for us to bring in.

“But for now he’ll just get back and play and get himself in great nick, so if he gets an opportunity to come to Africa, he’s ready to go.”

All Blacks Prepare For South Africa Tests

The Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series is set to be a major test for New Zealand as they continue their rebuild under Rennie.

Mo’unga’s absence means the All Blacks will rely on other fly-half options for the opening phase, while the experienced playmaker focuses on regaining match sharpness through domestic rugby.

Rennie said he already has a team in mind for the opening Test of the high-profile series against the world champion Springboks.

“We’ve talked about lots of things. We’ve picked the first four squads for the first four games in Africa,” he said.

“So we’ve had a lot of thought around where we want to see guys.

“Everyone will get to play in that first week, so it’s an opportunity for everyone to push for places.”