All Blacks first-five Richie Mo'unga is out of quarantine ahead of the final Rugby Championship game against the Springboks on Saturday on the Gold Coast - but he isn't free just yet.
Richie Mo'unga is back with the All Blacks - and back stuck in a hotel room. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Mo'unga was a late arrival in Australia after staying back in New Zealand for the birth of his second child and had to quarantine for two weeks after touching down in Queensland.
Mo'unga rejoined his team mates in training this week and assistant coach Scott McLeod said he would be considered for selection this weekend.
However, Queensland authorities are trying to contain a potential Covid-19 outbreak in the Brisbane region, after detecting four new cases in the community on Tuesday and the All Blacks are now once again confined to their hotel.
"It's level 2 in terms of for the tournament, so we're not allowed to go out of the hotel except for essentials or for medical visits so we're hotel bound but we've been that way a number of weeks now, we know how to have some fun and I'm sure we'll do that the next day or two," McLeod said.
"It's something that is unexpected but we've had this before and we've dealt with it really quickly and like I say we've learnt how to have fun as a group now inside so we will continue to do that."
Mo'unga's extended time away from the field during his time locked down in an Australian hotel means the All Blacks coaches will be cautious with how they reintroduce him to playing.
"[He's been] snappy and sharp at the training so there is lots of enthusiasm from him and that really does inject a nice energy to the group, but in terms of the week we need to have a look at him as well, he's been inside for two weeks and he's been working hard but we just need to have a look at him on the training field and just assess where he is at and what's best for the team," McLeod said.
The All Blacks narrowly justified their number one world ranking with a hard-fought 19-17 win over world champions South Africa in Townsville on Saturday to secure the Rugby Championship title with a match to spare.
Coach Ian Foster has called for the All Blacks to complete the "grand slam" by finishing the Rugby Championship - against Australia, South Africa and Argentina - undefeated.
