EXCLUSIVE: Richie Mo’unga reacts to Robertson’s All Blacks exit

Toshiba Brave Lupus fly-half Richie Mo’unga has commented for the first time on his former coach Scott Robertson’s departure from the All Blacks.

Two-time League One winner Mo’unga, 31, won seven Super Rugby titles under Robertson with the Crusaders and is two months into his third and last season in Japan.

The mercurial playmaker and back-to-back MVP inked a deal with New Zealand Rugby in October return home on an 18-month contract this summer, commencing in July 2026 and running through until the end of 2027.

However, the eagerly-anticipated Mo’unga and Robertson reunion has been scuppered by ex-Black Rams Tokyo flanker Robertson and NZR parting ways with on Thursday following an end-of-year review.

Speaking after a 38-27 win against Urayasu D-Rocks on Saturday, Mo’unga told RugbyJP.com: “Having a personal and professional relationship with Razor, we’re very close, so I’ve been thinking of him these last few days.

“I’ve been thinking of his family and what they’ve had to endure these last few days. It’s so tough, the job is so highly scrutinised.”

The Christchurch native is returning home purely to become eligible to play for the All Blacks at the 2027 World Cup as he chases one more tilt at the one major trophy that has eluded him.

Mo’unga explained how he believes Robertson will handle his removal from the role just two years into his four-year contract.

“He will own it and understand that this is just part of professional rugby, it’s high-performance and that stuff happens,” he told RugbyJP.com.

“It happens everyday, not just to coaches but also to players.” 

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Mo’unga’s ‘three-peat’ hopefuls Toshiba sit fourth in division one with four consecutive wins following their 46-0 thumping from Robbie Deans’ former side Saitama Wild Knights in the opening round.

Todd Blackadder’s site threatened to run away with the game against Graham Rowntree’s vastly-improved Urayasu but the hosts continually fought back and forced an arm-wrestle of a contest.

“The thing I said to Robbie (Deans) a while ago was that hardest thing to do in Japan is to win from a winning position,” added Mo’unga, who sustained a knock on his right knee but will be ready for Saturday’s rematch from the 2025 final against leaders Kubota Spears.

“That’s always the case because momentum changes so quickly here and a lot of things are out of your control, defence and the way you hold onto the ball, like you saw today, it’s really tough to close out a game.” 

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Toshiba host Frans Ludeke’s undefeated side at Chichibunomiya and will still be without All Black Shannon Frizell, Japan wing Jone Naikabula and club captain Michael Leitch.

Blackadder told RugbyJP: "With the context of Jone’s leg injury, there's signs of improvement, then he feels a tight calf, it's up and down and we’ll continue to monitor him.

“Leitch is still coming back from the calf injury he sustained while he was playing for Japan. He's on track and could be ready to return in possibly two weeks.

“Shannon has broken his thumb and will be out for three months.”

Stay tuned for on-site overage of Toshiba v Kubota on Saturday