Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Josh Ioane in contention for All Blacks re-call following Richie Mo'unga injury

By Online Editors
Josh Ioane. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

Discarded All Blacks playmaker Josh Ioane could be in line to return to the national side after an injury to Richie Mo’unga during New Zealand’s 36-0 thrashing of the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mo’unga was pulled from the field in the second half with a shoulder injury after falling heavily in a gang tackle.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said he has been cleared of any serious injury that could rule him out of next month’s World Cup, but the injury could lead to Ioane earning a re-call back into the camp ahead of New Zealand’s World Cup warm-up test against Tonga in Hamilton on September 7.

“Richie’s shoulder looks like an AC joint issue,” Hansen told reporters in Auckland.

“Whilst it’s not long term, he’ll be sore for a couple of weeks. Hopefully no more.”

Ioane was named in the All Blacks’ 39-man squad for the Rugby Championship last month, and was named on the bench in their season-opener against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

However, the 24-year-old didn’t make it onto the field during his side’s 20-16 win, and was then one of five players culled as 34 players were named for the Bledisloe Cup series.

He did remain with the squad, though, in a training capacity in the lead-up to Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup decider, which Mo’unga played a pivotal role in by contributing a try, three conversions and a penalty for a personal points tally of 14.

ADVERTISEMENT

The All Blacks are thinly-stocked at first-five, with two-time World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett the only other available option in the position.

Both he and Mo’unga are expected to make Hansen’s final 31-man team for the World Cup, which will be announced on August 28.

Ioane, meanwhile, will return to Otago ahead of their Mitre 10 Cup clash with Hawke’s Bay in Napier on Thursday.

He will be joined by All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman, with the pair among nine players who have been made available to play provincial rugby this weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

The other seven players are Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Vaea Fifita (Wellington), Braydon Ennor (Canterbury), Brad Weber (Hawke’s Bay), Atu Moli (Tasman), Jackson Hemopo (Manawatu) and Luke Jacobson (Waikato).

In other news:

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 29 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

26 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING England No8 Sarah Beckett banned after leg-breaking croc roll tackle England No8 Sarah Beckett banned after leg-breaking croc roll tackle
Search