Former All Black Carlos Spencer has weighed in on the All Blacks’ No 10 debate as the wait for a new head coach drags on.
Former Crusaders first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga will return on an 18-month contract from July 2026 to December 2027, with the intention of featuring at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The 56-test playmaker will compete with fellow veterans Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie for the All Blacks pivot role, with 24-year-old Ruben Love another option.
Spencer told the Herald that Mo’unga should retake the No 10 jersey.
“If Richie is fit and he can show he can play test match rugby after being away for two or three seasons, then he’s my man. He’s able to drive a game at 10. I love 10s who challenge the line and don’t mind taking contact.
“That’s why I like McKenzie, but he’s probably struggling to drive a game at the moment. But who knows what condition Richie’s going to be in after coming back from Japan after a couple of seasons and a couple of years away from test match rugby.”
Mo’unga’s return comes with the national side in a state of flux after the shock departure of coach Scott Robertson, who oversaw an unconvincing couple of years.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph and former Wallabies gaffer Dave Rennie are understood to be the two frontrunners to replace Robertson.
The All Blacks have a huge year before them, with a tour of South Africa and four tests against the Springboks taking place across August and September.
Given Mo’unga will only be back in July, it is unlikely he will be picked for the tour, but he is likely to return for the Bledisloe Cup in October after getting some NPC rugby for Canterbury under his belt.
The All Blacks’ attack has been a major talking point since their disappointing 2025. New Zealand have been inaccurate, lacking direction and creativity.
Spencer said the side had been struggling with the ball in-hand in the past two seasons.
“It just didn’t really look like they had any structure around their attack. But a lot of that is the ability to come up with solutions in the moment, which they’re probably not doing at the moment.
“I think it’s around probably that general structure and their DNA. Sometimes they don’t actually know what they’re doing either, so that was probably the disappointing thing.”
The past few years have involved many international teams opting for gameplans based on kick-chase. While the likes of South Africa have used it to great effect, New Zealand have not been able to match their accuracy with the boot or under the high ball.
“I think they’re kicking the ball far too much. But once again, you’ve got to adapt to what stock you’ve got,” Spencer said. “A good thing about South Africa is they’ve adapted to what stock they’ve got now. They’re a team that used to rely purely on being physical. Now, I think they’ve just brought a little bit of that attacking ambition and that flair to it.”
The upcoming tour of South Africa will be a marker for where the All Blacks are at with their new coaching group, a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
However, Spencer is playing down the importance of performance against the Springboks this year as an indicator of World Cup potential.
“I don’t think it has any relevance to what’s going to come World Cup. I just think the tour in general is going to be great for New Zealand. I think it’ll give an indication of where they are and where they sit, especially going in with a new coaching group or definitely a new head coach.
“The All Blacks just need a bit of confidence. They need confidence in their coaching group and their head coach. I think if they can have a good tour, they’ll get that out of South Africa.”
Spencer is currently coaching Terenure RFC in Ireland and is an assistant coach for the Blues women, having helped take them to the Super Rugby Aupiki title last year.
The Blues men’s great has acquired coaching experience across the world, having coached with the Lions, Sharks and Kings in South Africa and spent two years in Japan with the Munakata Sanix Blues.
Spencer denies having any big ambitions with coaching, saying he is simply enjoying the ride.
“I’m happy moving around, but I’ve really enjoyed the women’s space over the last few years, and that’s why I’m keen to get back involved with them this year. I’ve just enjoyed that space and just being around the girls and the energy that they’ve brought.
“For me, it’s been really energising being in that space. I find it just so much more relaxing and just able to express yourself more in that environment.”
Spencer remains an ambassador for the Auckland-based Blues, whom he represented 99 times, winning three Super Rugby titles and scoring 620 points.
This season marks 30 years since the inception of the original professional Super 12 competition, and Spencer said while the game is very similar, the athletes have transformed.
“There might be little tweaks around shapes and stuff like that, but the game hasn’t really changed from what we were doing 30 years ago. There’s a little bit more structure in the game now. But in terms of difference, players are built differently. They’re a lot stronger and more physical these days. They’re probably better athletes than they were 30 years ago.
“Maybe there’s a little bit more kicking these days. But just in terms of the style of the game, it’s a lot more physical and demanding on the players.”
To mark 30 years of the Blues, sponsor nib New Zealand has conducted new research to reveal what kind of legacy Kiwis hope to leave behind for young people.
The survey found 61% of Kiwis say the most important lesson to pass on to young people is how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This was followed by achieving a good education (58%), giving back to the community (44%), and carrying on family traditions (30%).
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.