mens
international
The All black people have suffered yet another injury ahead of their Bledisloe Cup run, with Richie Mo’unga and Fehi Fineanganofo both ruled out of Saturday’s meeting at Eden Park.
Mo’unga suffered a calf injury during practice on Tuesday, and scans confirmed the tear. New Zealand Rugby has yet to set a timetable for the return of the first five and no replacements have been called up to the squad at this stage.
The injury is another blow to Dave Rennie’s options at No.10 after Ruben Love was recently ruled out until the end of 2026. Hurricanes the playmaker needs surgery on an ankle ligament injury sustained during rugby’s biggest rivalry in South Africa, having started six Tests for the All Blacks this year.
Newcastle Red Bulls-bound Finneganofo has also been withdrawn after suffering concussion and a hamstring strain while playing for Bay of Plenty. The outside back will serve a mandatory 12-day rest period, while a scan also confirmed an upper knee injury.
Crusaders’ Chay Fihaki has been called up to the All Blacks squad as a replacement for Fineanganofo, adding another option to an already injury-plagued backline after a four-Test tour of South Africa.
The latest setbacks add to a long list of casualties from Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Caleb Clarke and Billy Proctor were among those dropped after the series, while Anton Lienert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Segner and Cortez Ratima also carried injuries.
New Zealand have already lost Love for the rest of the year, leaving Mo’unga’s calf problem as another concern in the first five ahead of the two-legged Test Bledisloe Cup series against Australia.
The timing leaves Rennie with more changes ahead of the two-Test series against Australia, with New Zealand’s depth already tested after a grueling four-match tour of South Africa.
Mo’ung’s timetable for his return to action will be determined after further evaluation, while Fineanganofo will now begin his recovery from a concussion and knee injury.
