Scott Robertson sheds light on Mo'unga situation, state of All Blacks 10s

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has been quizzed on the first five-eighth stocks of New Zealand, including Richie Mo’unga’s selection status.

Mo’unga’s contract discussions saga resurfaced again late last year, but was ultimately put to rest with the star playmaker committing to see out his contract in Japan.

Reports stated that both the All Blacks coach and New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson flew to Japan to partake in a meeting with Mo’unga, and his club, Toshiba Brave Lupus late in 2024.

Both representatives of the New Zealand Rugby part of that equation have now had the chance to explain what went down.

“There was a lot of speculation around that at the end of last year,” Robinson acknowledged on Newstalk ZB’s Rugby Direct podcast.

“Look, I think clearly people understand there were some conversations through late last year, but ultimately Richie’s made a decision to work through to the obligations under his contract.

“We respect that and we’re moving forward. We’re really clear on our eligibility rules, and we certainly always respect players that have left the All Blacks and are playing offshore.

“There’s always a degree of contact that happens, but that’s good coaches and good people doing their jobs properly. And that happens at a lot of levels, that happens with players who are very much past their playing careers. That’s just the nature of the All Blacks environment and All Blacks family.

“But look, we’re clearly moving forward and have got a lot of belief in the people coming through and the protocols we’ve got in place.”

Some criticism has fallen at the feet of Robertson throughout the saga, with pundits concerned the perceived eager attempts to see Mo’unga back in black reflected poorly on the confidence the coaching staff have in their current first five stocks, headlined by Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.

For the coach, he says it’s as simple as wanting to have “all your best players available.”

“That’s what it takes to win a Rugby World Cup and you keep connected with all of them, doesn’t matter where they’re at,” the coach said.

“You still get messages from the old players now and again, checking in and making sure. Sam Cane’s had his time but he’s a prime example, he checks in and makes sure everything’s alright in the offseason. But yeah, you just want your best players.”

While speaking on his desire to bring his former partner in crime home, Robertson also insisted McKenzie and Barrett’s respective roles in the All Blacks in the coming years are “critical”.

“Look, DMac (McKenzie), what a year that he had, we gave him plenty of opportunity, just his ability to control the game with his boot – the Irish game, how good was that? The week before, he kicked the ball from the sideline against England to change the match and then he owned that game against Ireland.

“He got picked in the World XV as a 10. So, his impact off the bench, his match management, his ability to lead the team’s been incredible.

“And you’ve got Beauden who’s just evergreen, he just keeps going and so classy, just got so much time. He knows that game, knows the kicking game, has been awesome for us coaches, he’s been great off the field.

“So, both of them complement each other really well and because they can play 10 and 15 and both have great impact off the bench are really, really valuable to us.”

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Podcast co-host Liam Napier pointed out that McKenzie’s contract expires this year, jokingly asking if the pair will be travelling to Hamilton to offer the All Blacks star a racehorse to convince him to hang around and remain eligible for national selection.

“Mate, we’ll offer him anything!” Robertson laughed. “Look, he’s a line-breaker, he’s got that special ability to do something others don’t. We have every intention (of re-signing him) and we’ll work as hard as we possibly can.

“To have a player like him, he’s in the peak of his powers at 29, he’s learnt so much, he’s mature. For sure, we’re on him.”