The visiting national side has suffered a significant injury blow during their ongoing tour in South Africa. All Blacks midfielder Billy Proctor will return home to New Zealand today after fracturing his shoulder blade during the opening match against the Stormers. Consequently, the selection panel confirmed that star playmaker Richie Mo’unga joins All Blacks squad as a direct replacement for the remainder of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.
Billy Proctor Ruled Out Following Stormers Match
The unfortunate injury occurred during the tour opener against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town. Proctor delivered a strong performance at outside centre before suffering a fractured shoulder blade. As a result, the talented midfielder must fly back to New Zealand to begin his rehabilitation process immediately.
Head Coach Dave Rennie expressed deep sympathy for Proctor following the official announcement. The coaching team acknowledged his impressive form throughout the season prior to this frustrating setback.
“We really feel for Billy. He has had a great season so this is frustrating for him,” said Head Coach Dave Rennie. “It is the harsh reality of our game. We wish him all the best with his recovery and hope to see him fit and well in time for the end of year tour selection.”
Richie Mo’unga Joins All Blacks Squad as Tactical Replacement
To fill the void in the touring squad, selectors turned to experienced fly-half Richie Mo’unga. The 31-year-old playmaker brings immense international experience to the team set-up. After recent domestic appearances for Canterbury in the NPC, Mo’unga received the call to rejoin the squad in South Africa.
Coach Dave Rennie emphasized that Mo’unga was the natural choice to join the group during this crucial phase of the tour. The experienced back will arrive in Johannesburg on Friday to integrate with his teammates.
“Richie is the obvious choice as a replacement,” Coach Rennie noted. “His job now is to get in and learn our systems, get his head around the detail and earn the right to play.”
Tour Preparation and Upcoming Fixtures
This squad adjustment comes at a critical time as the team prepares for their fixture against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria. Fans can review our detailed match preview in the All Blacks vs Vodacom Bulls preview. Additionally, you can recap previous tour victories by reading our All Blacks vs Hollywoodbets Sharks match report and checking the All Blacks vs Sharks stats preview.
Following the clash in Pretoria, the squad travels to Johannesburg ahead of the opening Test against the Springboks. Stay completely up to date with match kick-off times via our All Blacks 2026 Schedule page and check venue access on the All Blacks 2026 Tickets Guide. For daily news coverage, visit our Rugby News Hub, and follow official rankings on World Rugby.