All Blacks will find 'loophole' to include Mo'unga on SA tour, say Bok greats

The All Blacks head to South Africa in August to face their arch-rivals but, as things stand, they will be without their star flyhalf.

Mo'unga is set to return to New Zealand in June after three seasons with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan, but will not be eligible for the All Blacks until October, as NZ Rugby laws stipulate he must feature in the NPC before returning to the Test arena.

That means he will miss the Nations Championship fixtures in July and the Tests with the Springboks in August and September.

New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has asked NZ Rugby to make an exception for Mo'unga, but the governing body are standing firm.

The playmaker could be called up if there are injuries, however, and Burger expects to see the 31-year-old included at some stage.

"I guess there will be an 'injury', that's what I think will happen. That's the legislation but he's such a good player, he will somehow make the trip," the former flanker said on the Boks Unpacked podcast.

"He will hide away for the first week and someone will have a toe [issue] bending backwards and he will be on the plane.

"He should be, he's a great player."

De Villiers agreed and insisted the Springboks would never let a player of that calibre miss out on a "technicality".

"If you feel that there's a player, and it's Richie Mo'unga in this instance, that can make a difference to your squad and can add value to a squad, surely a technicality like that will not hold him back," he said.

"They've got the authorities and people in charge there that can just make a call. The coach, Dave Rennie, can make a call and say: 'I want that guy, he's playing in New Zealand now, he needs to come on tour'.

Burger then chimed in, adding: "Especially because they've made the commitment. If they were continuing or doing half a contract [in Japan], they're coming back to New Zealand rugby to play and further their careers there - that's a big enough commitment. You then don't have to put them through a club game or in our case a Currie Cup or SA Cup game.

"I think they will find a loophole in and around that injury term."