Herald football reporter Michael Burgess and sports editor Winston Aldworth debate the worth of having veteran Tommy Smith in the World Cup squad. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read has criticised New Zealand Rugby’s selection continued policy, after chief executive Steve Lancaster confirmed Richie Mo’unga won’t be eligible for the tour to South Africa.
Mo’unga has spent the last three years playing in Japan with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, but signed an18-month deal with New Zealand Rugby (NZR), which starts in July.
Aside from being signed with NZR, eligibility rules require overseas-based players returning to New Zealand to play domestically before becoming eligible for the All Blacks.
That means the 31-year-old will need to play NPC rugby with Canterbury in the same month his contract starts before he’s able to don the black jersey again.
Lancaster said NZR discussed the situation internally but had not asked the board to relax the rules at the AGM at the start of May.
Speaking on the Alternative Commentary Collective’s podcast The Agenda, Read said he was excited to see Mo’unga’s return but couldn’t understand why NZR wouldn’t change the rules for him to play in upcoming fixtures.
“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 said.
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read has criticised New Zealand Rugby's selection policy regarding Richie Mo'unga. Photo / Photosport
“It’s like, well, why don’t we just let him 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.”
Black Fern Georgia Ponsonby was granted an eligibility exemption by the NZR board and signed an interim contract so she could take part in the Pacific Four series.
Ponsonby had signed a contract with the Ealing Trailfinders in England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby after last year’s Rugby World Cup, which made her ineligible for selection, but mounting injuries was given as the main reason to grant her an exemption.
Under Read’s captaincy, the All Blacks also waived the rule to select Matt Todd, who was playing in Japan, on their Northern Tour in 2018.
Read said NZR make the rules so they can change the rules.
“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.
Kieran Read swapping jerseys with Sri Lanka cricket legends during the New Zealand Under 85kg rugby tour of the country. Photo / Supplied
“It would mean no sense, it’d be ridiculous.”
NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster said Mo’unga could be eligible for the latter stages of the tour to South Africa, but Read felt if coach Dave Rennie wanted him in the squad, he should be able to be there from the start because he’s signed to the organisation.
“Play them in the team that they deserve to be in and if the coach wants to pick them, that’s where they should be.”
