New Zealand's Mo’unga returns to stake World Cup claims

New Zealand's Mo’unga returns to stake World Cup claims JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 : New Zealand flyhalf Richie Mo'unga will don an All Blacks jersey on Tuesday for the first time since the last World Cup final as he makes a bid for a place in the squad for next year’s global tournament. Mo'unga will start against the Lions at Ellis Park as New Zealand play the last game against provincial opposition on their eight-match tour of South Africa. The 32-year-old was called up as an injury replacement in an effort by new coach Dave Rennie to integrate him into the squad one year out from the 2027 World Cup in Australia. "One reason for coming back was obviously to win a World Cup, but to not have any regrets of ‘geez, I wish I had given it another crack or maybe there was a bit more to give," Mo’unga told reporters on Monday. "I’ve just come back really grateful. I knew I missed it, but coming back in, you realise this is a really special circle to be in. I’m just really savouring every moment and just not going to take these things for granted," he added. The All Blacks have Ruben Love as first-choice flyhalf and unless there is an injury or major loss of form, there is little chance Mo'unga will play in the remaining three tests. Mo’unga was unavailable for selection after three seasons with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan because the All Blacks have rules on only picking home-based players, but he returned to New Zealand in June and was included in an All Blacks training camp. His first opportunity to play for Canterbury came after the tour party had departed for South Africa, but injury to Billy Proctor gave Rennie the chance to call up the skilful Mo’unga as a replacement New Zealand lost the last World Cup final in Paris in 2023 by one point to South Africa but blitzed the Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park on Saturday in the first of the four-test series dubbed "Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry". (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed Osmond)