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Richie Mo’unga to miss Springboks opener as Dave Rennie gives key All Blacks fitness update RUGBY'S GREATEST RIVALRY Bulls substitute fullback Hakeem Khunene tries to burst through a tackle in their match against the All Blacks. Image: Backpagepix All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has confirmed that flyhalf maestro Richie Mo’unga will not play in next Saturday’s opening Test against the Springboks, although several injured stars are on track to return at Ellis Park. Rennie, speaking after his “dirt-tracker” side thrashed the Bulls 50–19 in Pretoria on Saturday night, said scrumhalf Cam Roigard and utility back Will Jordan were likely to be available for the first Test, while Damian McKenzie remained a doubt. Mo’unga arrived in South Africa late on Friday night after completing his club commitments overseas and will be given time to familiarise himself with the All Blacks’ systems before being considered for the second Test in Cape Town on 29 August. “Richie arrived late last night. He is excited and jumping out of his skin,” Rennie said. “He has already done a fair bit of study. We will spend the next week getting his head around our game. “We won’t pick him in the first Test. He will get some game time against the Lions on 25 August, three days after the first Test, and will be considered for the second Test.” Rennie was more optimistic about Roigard and Jordan, who have both been sidelined by injury but came through their training workload this week. “Will and Cam got through training this week and we are pretty confident that they will be available for Ellis Park, but we want them to have a full week of training,” he said. “They are ticking boxes. “With Damian we are less confident, but he has a chance of playing in the first Test. The expectation is that they will all be available.” Rennie said the emphatic victory over the Bulls had given the All Blacks confidence ahead of their opening Test against the world champions. “We scored 50 points against a very good Bulls side. That is a positive,” he said. “We played against a team that was prepared to come out and play. They took it to us, but our set pieces were really strong, especially the scrum. “And our discipline was much better tonight.” Related Topics: