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Mo'unga returns for All Blacks' fourth Test vs Springboks
Sport Nation • September 11th, 2026 8:00 am
Richie Mo'unga | Photo: Photosport
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made a host of changes to his side for Sunday's (NZ time) fourth and final Test against South Africa in Baltimore.
Five players will make their first Test starts of the tour, with Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ethan Blackadder, Richie Mo'unga and Anton Lienert-Brown all promoted into the starting XV.
Codie Taylor returns at hooker and will captain the side, with Asafo Aumua moving to the bench.
Newell gets the nod at tighthead prop, with Tyrel Lomax shifting to the reserves, while Tuipulotu joins Sam Darry in the second row.
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Tupou Vaa'i moves back to blindside flanker, linking up with Ethan Blackadder and Peter Lakai in the loose forwards.
In the backs, Josh Moorby starts on the left wing, while Richie Mo'unga returns at first five-eighth and Lienert-Brown partners Jordie Barrett in the centres.
Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord also return to the match-day 23 after successfully progressing through World Rugby's concussion protocols following their early exits in the opening Test.
Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett come into the squad as backline cover.
Captain Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea have all ruled out through injury, while Fabian Holland is unavailable due to illness.
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Rennie said the changes had long been in place, as the All Blacks look to finish their tour on a high.
"We always planned for there to be a number of changes for this match," he said.
"Every player here has worked incredibly hard over the last seven weeks to prepare the team for the seven games we've played so far, and all those selected for this Test fully deserve it.
"We have everything to play for on (Sunday). It is our chance to draw the series and end the tour with a performance to be proud of."
The All Blacks will need a win in Baltimore to level the four-Test series after South Africa took a 2-1 lead in Johannesburg last weekend.
The match kicks off at 9.10am, Sunday (NZT).
All Blacks squad for fourth Test vs South Africa:
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor (captain), 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Ethan Blackadder, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Josh Moorby, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Damian McKenzie
Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Rieko Ioane, 23. Beauden Barrett.
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