Richie Mo'unga: All Blacks 'back-up option' makes statement to Dave Rennie

An impressive showing of strength from Alex Robertson’s forward pack secured an early lead for Canterbury, and despite dropping to 13 men, they held on.

Otago dominated the opening stages of the game, as Jonah Nareki had a try ruled out. Canterbury soon warmed into the match and scored their first try through Brodie McAlister off the back of a powerful maul. Another great lineout drive from Canterbury allowed Jamie Hannah to establish a 12-3 lead on the stroke of half-time.

The perfect storm hit Canterbury in the 55th minute. Captain and hooker Brodie McAlister was sent off for an HIA after a collision with the referee, and substitute Manumaua Letiu was shown a yellow card for offside.

Due to not having a proper front line this resulted in a golden oldies (uncontested) scrum, causing Canterbury to have to drop another player for ten minutes. Lucas Casey muscled over the line moments later for Otago to bring the lead to four points.

It was scrappy in the closing stages of the game as both sides scored once again, but Otago turned the ball over on their last-ditch effort to retain the shield, resulting in a 19-15 Canterbury victory.

TRIES: 2 (Casey 56’, Lopas 74’)

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Millar 74’)

PENALTIES: 1 (Millar 26’)

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

STARTING XV: 1. Marley Pearce, 2. Henry Bell, 3. Saula Ma’u, 4. Will Stodart, 5. Joseva Tamani, 6. Charles Elton, 7. Lucas Casey, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Joel Lam, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Jake Te Hiwi, 13. Josh Timu, 14. Jae Broomfield, 15. Sam Nemec-Vial

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Nic Souchon, 17. Ben Lopas, 18. Rohan Wingham, 19. Harry Irving, 20. Slade McDowall, 21. Kieran McClea, 22. Pat Pellegrini, 23. Riley Lucas

TRIES: 3 (McAlister 16’, 67’, Hannah 40+2’)

CONVERSIONS: 2 (Mo’unga 16’, 67’)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Letiu 55’)

RED CARDS: 0

STARTING XV: 1. Finlay Brewis, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. Seb Calder, 4. Tahlor Cahill, 5. Jamie Hannah, 6. Dom Gardiner, 7. Corey Kellow, 8. Torian Barnes, 9. Louie Chapman, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Ngane Punivai, 12. Jone Rova, 13. Dallas McLeod, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Johnny McNicholl

REPLACEMENTS: 16. Manumaua Letiu, 17. Dan Lienert-Brown, 18. Gus Brown, 19. Liam Jack, 20. Finn McLeod, 21. Tyson Belworthy, 22. Andrew Knewstubb, 23. Toby Bell

After spending three years playing in Japan, Richie Mo’unga returned to New Zealand rugby in round 1 of the NPC as he scored the winning try in a 38-31 victory against Auckland. Today, he was moved to the starting lineup against Otago in place of Andrew Knewstubb. Mo’unga had a solid performance, clearly displaying his experience as he managed the pace of Canterbury’s offense.

Mo’unga converted two of three tries and scooped up plenty of loose balls from Otago turnovers. His high balls and ground kicks gave the Canterbury attack some inspiration, even if there weren’t direct efforts to show for it.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie confirmed before their tour of South Africa that Mo’unga is a backup option if one of their number 10’s was to get injured. Canterbury will be hoping for an injury-free run from their national team, as Mo’unga will be an important piece of the puzzle for their upcoming Ranfurly Shield defences.

Today’s match was a rematch of the last occasion that the Ranfurly Shield switched hands. In September 2025, Otago successfully defeated Canterbury in a 38-36 thriller to take the shield home to Dunedin. It was the fourth transfer of ownership that season, previously being held by Taranaki, Waikato and Southland respectively.

Otago managed one successful defence to retain the shield over the off-season, but fell short on their first defence attempt of this season. The result today sees Canterbury lift the shield for a record-breaking 18th time as they now potentially face back-to-back defences against Bay of Plenty in round 3 and Northland in round 4.

The Canterbury hooker reached 50 caps in his side’s victory against Otago, after being named captain just at the start of the season. It was a night to remember for him as he scored two tries – the opener to take the lead, and the final Canterbury try to seal the match.

McAlister was also at the centre of the bizarre showing sequence of events that led to the golden oldies scrum rule being put into action. He was unfortunate to collide with referee Ben O’Keefe, leading to him being sent off for an HIA. His replacement, Manumaua Letiu, was shown a yellow card within moments of entering play due to repeated defensive infringements. With no other hooker available, Canterbury were down to 13 men until McAlister passed his HIA and came back on in the 61st minute.

Speaking with Sky Sport after the match, McAlister praised how Canterbury were able to stay focused. “It just comes down to the leadership group. We’ve got a good bunch of guys there that take over when someone goes off the field, so credit to them in that moment, sticking in there for 10 minutes with 13 men on the field.”

4. Otago’s New Moana Pasifika Recruits

Otago have gained two valuable additions in first five Pat Pellegrini, and halfback Joel Lam. With Cam Millar set to head to Auckland for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season, the Highlanders signed 27-year-old Pellegrini to take his place. In turn, he’s also joined the Otago provincial team, but finds himself on the bench behind Millar so far. He’s looked sharp when he’s been on the pitch, hinting towards the battle for Otago’s number 10 jersey becoming interesting.

Joel Lam came in as a replacement halfback on his Otago debut against Southland; however, he was promoted to the starting lineup for today's match. Offering a solid display as Otago’s number 9, it’s safe to say that the two Moana Pasifika transfers have settled in smoothly.

Otago announced on Friday that flanker Charles Elton would replace Oliver Haig in the starting lineup. With Haig being dropped, Otago’s new signing in 21-year-old Harry Irving, was promoted to the number 19 jersey. Along with this, hooker Nic Souchon replaced Liam Coltman on the bench.

Having not been on the team list at all in round 1, Elton had a strong showing. He claimed multiple lineouts and almost managed to get across the line for a try. Unfortunately for the flanker, a TMO review found that he’d lost the ball on the way down.

Just prior to kick-off, Canterbury announced that tight-head prop Jermaine Ainsley was ruled out, leaving Seb Calder to take his place. Gus Brown filled the new gap at the number 18 jersey. The last-minute change to Canterbury’s forward pack certainly didn’t hinder them. All three of their tries were scored by out-muscling Otago at the line-out and in the maul.

Otago captain Christian Lio-Willie gave Canterbury their flowers when speaking with Sky Sport after his side’s 4-point loss today, resulting in them having to hand over the Ranfurly Shield.

“I think it just came down to moments. Like you said, it was a Ranfurly Shield match and a high-stakes game. Canterbury came out firing, you know, and I couldn’t fault my boys here. Well deserving of Canterbury, they were the better team today.”

Lio-Willie concluded that small errors caused the unravelling of his Otago side.

“We were just trying to play fast, you know. Credit to them, they slowed us down with their set piece at times, especially with that golden oldies (scrum). We got a try off that first one, but we just couldn’t quite execute.

“It just came down to the execution of moments. I’m just proud of the effort the boys put in, especially that last ten (minutes) there, how we were coming back.”

Brodie McAlister highlighted Canterbury’s defence as the gamechanger, also critiquing their own attack.

“We’ve been working hard on that side of the game (defensive), and (I’m) glad that side won the game tonight. I think our attack probably left a bit out there and kept Otago in the game, so that’s something that we’ll look at.”

Canterbury face Bay of Plenty next weekend in their first Ranfurly Shield defence, whilst Otago travel to Palmerston North to face Manawatū.