The All Blacks name Richie Mo’unga in the starting lineup for their final non-test match against the British and Irish Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Both outlets report this is Mo’unga’s first appearance for New Zealand since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
The match is described as a midweek fixture and the last non-test game before the Lions series proper. Stuff.co.nz adds that Mo’unga is expected to run the cutter in the team’s backline, indicating a role in directing the fly-half play. The South African similarly focuses on Mo’unga returning to the All Blacks after the World Cup and highlights the significance of his selection for the Lions game. The reporting aligns on Mo’unga’s return and the match location and timing, with differences mainly in added detail about his playing role and categorisation as a non-test match.
