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Springboks make two eve-of-match changes for second All Blacks Test
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Breakdown panel questions eligibility rule for returning All Blacks
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Both Shannon Frizell and Richie Mo’unga are heading home in 2026, returning to New Zealand Rugby ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
However, under the current eligibility rules at New Zealand Rugby, both players will need to play in the 2026 Bunnings NPC competition for their respective provinces before being selectable for the end-of-year tour later in the year.
Unless a rule change is confirmed, new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie and his coaching staff will be without the services of the two experienced campaigners for the historic Greatest Rivalry Tour to South Africa.
It wouldn’t surprise many if NZR were to allow the players to be selected for South Africa, after allowing Leicester Faa’ianganuku to be picked in 2025, while the Black Ferns have also recently been granted permission to select a number of PWR players due to injuries.
On Sky Sport, three former All Blacks have discussed whether it would be beneficial for Rennie to have these two players in the mix for the important tour.
“For me, this is about we’ve signed them for one reason, and that’s to improve the performance of the All Blacks,” former All Black Jeff Wilson said.
“Now, how they do that and when they do that should be as soon as possible, and playing an arbitrary 40 minutes of NPC rugby does not help you get ready to play for the All Blacks.
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“So for me, I look at it as soon as they are fit and available, and in New Zealand, they need to be involved with the All Blacks, whether it be in the squad to go to South Africa or sitting outside in preparation in the middle of the year, in July.”
Current Auckland NPC head coach and former All Black Steven Bates agrees, adding that if New Zealand want to be better as a rugby nation, this decision is a no brainer.
“They’ve come home for a reason and they’ve come home to make us better,” Bates said on The Breakdown..
“Do we want to be better as a rugby nation? I think the answer is yes. Rennie or the powers that be have decided these two people make us better. So chuck them in there and get us better.”
For the Greatest Rivalry tour specifically, the All Blacks will take on three South African franchises before the start of the four-Test series, while playing the last of the domestic sides between the first and second Test.
The All Blacks squad will likely feature 40 or more players, which is why Wilson believes you need players like Frizell and Mo’unga to add experience to the group.
“You’ve got to remember, that there are midweek games and there are games against provincial teams to start the South African trip, and I think it’s really important.
“You’ve got 18 months, we’ve got these young players who’ve had an opportunity recently, but if they’re going to go through for the next 18 months, if you lose someone young, I’d like to replace someone with experience.
“Richie Mo’unga has played 56 tests, Frizzell 33, Findlay Christie’s played 28, Rieko Ioane’s played 88, now he might not be in your starting team for the All Blacks right now, but the value he will have in a 40 odd man team to South Africa will be huge, because you don’t want to drop any games as you build.
“Anton Lienert-Brown, 88, he’s coming back into the fold. All of these guys may not be in your starting team, but massive for the for the culture and the group as a whole.”
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