Falling out of Love: 'We were always going to start Richie,' says All Blacks boss

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is set to come to an end in Baltimore on Saturday when the Springboks face the All Blacks in the fourth and final Test. The World Champions head into the tie with a 2-1 lead, but that mattered not in Rennie's selection.

The All Blacks boss is spoiled for choice at flyhalf. Ruben Love has emerged as the front-runner - and Rennie has said as much - but other stars wait in the wings. Damian McKenzie has done the job in the past, veteran Beauden Barrett has only played in the club matches on Tour and now, surprise, surprise, Mo'unga has parachuted into the starting line-up.

"We talked about it a couple of weeks ago; regardless of the result in Soweto - whether we came here up 2-1 or down 1-2 - we were going to start Richie," Rennie told the press.

"He's been in the environment for a while, and he's got a really clear understanding of the game we want to play. We are keen to give him that opportunity.

"Ruben has gone really well. He's played the first six Tests of the year, but when I spoke to him, I stressed the fact that last week was probably the biggest Test the All Blacks have played since the World Cup Final. We trusted him to run the ship ahead of probably three more experienced No.10s.

"It highlights where we see him. But we are keen to give Richie a crack, and he has prepared really well this week."

"Beauden is not out of the reckoning from a No.10 point of view, and obviously Damian plays No.10. Between those guys we feel that we've got really good depth at No.10 and 15.

"Richie has come in, and he has been excellent. I think if you had asked Ruben about the help he's got, Beauden's been great for him and Damian and Richie as well. For us to win, we need everyone going well. While they are competing against each other, they are also helping each other grow.

"Richie's got a lot of experience, and Ruben has been really smart. He has been beside a lot of those guys and talked a lot of footy, and it's good for our group."

Mo'unga - who recently concluded his Japanese soiree - will run out in all black for the first time since the 12-11 loss to the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final in Paris. 

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