Ex-All Black captain Read takes aim at NZR over Mo'unga situation
Former All Black captain Kieran Read has sounded off at New Zealand Rugby over the handling of Richie Mo’unga’s eligibility.
New head coach Dave Rennie confirmed recently that no exemption has been given for Mo’unga, who signed a non-sabbatical contract to play in Japan for the last three years. New CEO Lancaster reiterated the decision.
Ex-captain Read couldn’t understand the decision when the ability to grant exemptions and change rules lies with NZR itself.
Read’s long-time Crusaders teammate Matt Todd was given an exemption to play for the All Blacks on the 2018 Northern Tour, where he played against England and Ireland.
“You’ve changed it before, the coach has literally said, ‘I’m gonna bring him into the squad so he can learn the moves’,” the former All Blacks captain told The Agenda podcast on the Alternative Commentary Collective.
“It’s like, well, why don’t we just let him [Mo’unga] play? If we know he’s going to be needed and he’s going to be so vital to us to be successful, he’s literally signed to New Zealand for the next 18 months.”
“It’s a little bit like they made the bed and they think they’ve got to sleep in it, but hey, you can change it, right? You can actually literally change the rules.
“Ardie [Savea] and Anton Lienert-Brown, who have been in Japan and supposedly it’s a sabbatical, they come straight in and play in July.
“I understand the reasoning around behind making guys want to stay in New Zealand, but the fact they’re back, he’s back in New Zealand and it would be a travesty if you’re running out in the first test against South Africa and Richie Mo’unga is playing here for Canterbury.
“It would mean no sense, it’d be ridiculous.”
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