Hansen backs All Blacks' patient approach to Mo'unga return as Love holds No.10 jersey

Steve Hansen has endorsed the All Blacks’ measured handling of Richie Mo’unga’s return to the squad, saying the 32-year-old fly-half can add value on New Zealand’s South Africa tour without necessarily taking the field, after Billy Proctor was sent home with a shoulder injury.

The former New Zealand head coach — who selected Mo’unga at No.10 during the 2019 Rugby World Cup — praised current head coach Dave Rennie’s group for taking their time before naming a replacement, arguing the deliberate approach signals confidence in the final call.

“It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t play, I don’t think,” Hansen told D’Arcy Waldegrave on Newstalk ZB. “I think what matters is that he has the time with the group and the new coaches, the new systems, and he benefits then when he does get to play; so he’s got an understanding and he’s up to speed. So yeah, that’s obviously the reason why they’ve taken him, and I think it’s smart play.”

Hansen drew a parallel with Beauden Barrett’s role earlier in the tour, noting that experienced players can shape a squad’s development even from the periphery. “We saw Beauden not play a big part in the first three Test matches, but he was huge for the team,” he said. “Richie will put the team first, and if he’s not playing, he’ll support those that are.”

Mo’unga’s path back into the starting XV is far from straightforward. Ruben Love has made the No.10 jersey his own heading into the 2026 Test season, winning all three of his Tests under Rennie and impressing in a midweek fixture against the Sharks in Durban. Hansen described Love’s form as “outstanding” and framed the expanded squad’s midweek matches as a “win-win” for bringing a wider group of players up to speed with the new coaching staff’s system.

When asked what Mo’unga specifically brings to a now five-strong group of playmakers in camp, Hansen was measured in his assessment. “He’s a natural athlete, but so are the others. He just brings his Test experience. He’s been around the place a long time now,” he said. “Love is still learning to be the player that he wants to be; he’s playing well. McKenzie’s playing well, so we’ve just got to sit back and see what he does bring.”

The All Blacks have five games remaining on the tour, giving Mo’unga time to integrate with Rennie’s setup before the 2026 Test season begins.