Ian Foster reveals shortlist for Lions clash including star All Black duo
Richie Mo'unga on a run for Toshiba Brave Lupus against Saitama Wild Knights.
Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster has hatched plans to unleash Richie Mo’unga on the British and Irish Lions despite the fly-half turning down a return to New Zealand colours.
Mo’unga met with Kiwi boss Scott Robertson and New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson at the end of last year in Japan, where he is playing his club rugby, to discuss his selection status.
The Crusaders great informed them he would be seeing out his contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus or, as Robinson put it, working through “to the obligations under his contract”.
That looked to have slammed shut the door on his international future for the time being but Foster has left it ajar by speculating that he might fancy trying his hand against the Lions.
Two years after steering New Zealand to the World Cup final, ‘Fozzie’ has been put in charge of an invitational Australia and New Zealand XV charged with providing the Lions with their final game ahead of the Test series.
The Adelaide Oval clash is a high-profile game, given its position in the tourists’ schedule, just seven days before the opening Test at Suncorp in Brisbane.
‘Those types of guys would be really good targets’
And Foster, determined that any team he puts his name to gives a good account of itself, is scouting around for the best available talent and has name-checked Mo’unga and former All Blacks half-back parent Aaron Smith – along with Australia legend Michael Hooper.
“When you look at the New Zealand-based players in Japan, you’ve got the likes of Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga,” said the Waikato legend, who is in the country coaching Toyota Verblitz.
“Those types of guys would be really, really good targets for this sort of game and hopefully we can work through things like that.”
For all his feats the Lions is missing from Mo’unga CV
Mo’unga has never faced the Lions, having made his debut for New Zealand the year after the best of British and Irish rugby last toured the Land of the Long White Cloud in 2017.
One man who has, albeit 12 years ago now, is Hooper and the former Australia captain, now 33, is another Foster would like to suit up against Andy Farrell’s tourists.
“There’s a young kid run Nagoya called Michael Hooper who’s going pretty good at the moment,” Foster said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing him back having a bit of a sniff.
“I haven’t told him that yet either, by the way. This will be a surprise to him.”
Hooper played against the Lions back in 2013
Hooper was in his first year of Test rugby when the Lions last toured Down Under in 2013. Although the Warren Gatland-coached squad won the series 2-1, Hooper was outstanding.
Stepping in to replace the injured David Pocock, he was an ever-present for Australia and ended the year winning the John Eales medal as Wallabies’ player of the year.
Having announced his retirement from Australian rugby last year, the back-row great could not have imagined taking on the Lions in July. Like Mo’unga, he may yet be surprised.
