All Blacks v Lions live updates: Richie Mo’unga returns in last midweek tour match of tour

Live updates of the tour clash between the All Blacks and the Lions at Ellis Park.Richie Mo’unga is back in black. Three years after his last appearance for the All Blacks, Mo’unga starts in the No 10 jersey for the final midweek South African tour match against the Lions.“It’s really special. It’s been a long time. I’m grateful to be back in this environment,” Mo’unga said.Much has changed for the All Blacks while Mo’unga claimed two League One titles in his three seasons with Toshiba in Japan.Mo’unga played his last test in the 2023 World Cup final that the All Blacks lost by one point to the Springboks. As he reflected on his time away from New Zealand, Mo’unga recalled the moment he decided he wanted to return home and have another crack at test rugby. The urge, the burning desire to truly test himself against the world’s best again, sparked within. “It was sitting in Japan one night watching Six Nations knowing there’s no better feeling than being in the arena,” Mo’unga said. “Japan rugby is a lot different to that. When you’re watching test matches over in Europe and watching the All Blacks play you never get that feeling. One reason for coming back was to win a World Cup but to not have any regrets of wishing I gave it another crack or thinking there was more to give.”Listening to the New Zealand anthem at Ellis Park, watching the All Blacks pull off another upset triumph over the Springboks, stirred the emotions. “I knew I missed it but coming back in you realise that this is a really special circle to be in. I’m savouring every moment. I’m not going to take these things for granted. There’s an awesome buzz in this group.”In Mo’unga’s absence, the All Blacks twice changed head coaches. Ian Foster passed the baton to Mo’unga’s former Crusaders coach Scott Robertson. And after his two-year tenure failed to deliver, Dave Rennie assumed charge this season.There was a time, certainly when Robertson led the All Blacks, when Mo’unga was viewed as the starting playmaker in waiting.This year, though, Rennie promoted Ruben Love to run the cutter. Four unbeaten tests have followed. With Mo’unga committing to New Zealand Rugby for 18 months rather than two years, he was forced to bide his time, play for Canterbury in the NPC and wait for an injury call-up exemption to join the South African tour. Living in limbo, not knowing when, or if, he would join the team for the greatest rivalry series evoked an initial whirlwind of emotions. “Early on it was there were so many different scenarios of how the year could pan out for me. The one thing I knew is I could only control what I could control. “Looking back at the last couple of months, it’s been the perfect way to come back into this environment, having two NPC games, getting back into some rhythm back home, back in the Canterbury team, and then back in here. I wanted to be here but I was at peace with what was going on.”Now in the All Blacks, Mo’unga is prepared to be patient, to take his chances when they arrive, starting against the Lions. His competitive spirit burns, but so, too, is he aware that Love has altered the pecking order. “I’ve been so impressed with how he’s played this season as a Hurricanes player and All Black. Coming into this team, it’s not about trying to get back in the 10 jersey it’s about nailing my role at this moment. That’s getting to grips with how the team plays, the new environment, meeting coaches for the first time and giving a helping hand where I can.“I want to be the best. I know there’s a process to that and at this point in time the process looks a bit different around preparing someone else to be the best. “I get the chance Tuesday to pull on the jersey. That’s another chance for me to try and be the best around what they’re asking me to do and how I can fulfil that role. And then just pushing other 10s throughout the tour at training but sharpening them up as well. I’m really competitive, but I’m also a team man. Whoever gets the role, gets the role. If it’s not me, I’ll do anything I can to help them succeed.”While the Japanese League One is a long way from the test scene, Mo’unga believes he returns a better, older, wiser 32-year-old asset. “There’s many things in my game I’ve changed. Japan gives me a lot of perspective and experiences I didn’t have in New Zealand. I’ve had to lead as a player and think as a coach in Japan. I’ve grown so much as a person, as a father and a husband, which has been pretty special.”The first step to push his case is now within reach.Other features of the team to play the Lions include injury replacements Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Jamie Hannah stepping off the plane and onto the bench. Highlanders prop Saula Ma’u will also debut from the bench.All Blacks loose forward Anton Segner is awaiting an official medical assessment from a South African hospital but his prognosis after discovering an ankle issue displaying acute inflammatory arthritis does not sound positive. All Blacks team1. Siale Lauaki, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Sam Darry, 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (C), 6. Wallace Sititi, 7. Ethan Blackadder, 8. Semisi Ta’eiloa, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Emoni Narawa, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Fehi Fineanganofo, 15. Beauden Barrett.Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Saula Ma’u, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Peter Lakai, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown Lions team1 SJ Kotze, 2 PJ Botha, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 5 Ruan Delport, 6 Siba Mahashe, 7 Batho Hlekani, 8 Francke Horn (c), 9 Nico Steyn, 10 Chris Smith, 11 Erich Cronje, 12 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco Van Wyk, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 15 Quan Horn.Reserves: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Boan Venter, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.Cameron McMillan has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport.