Richie Mo'unga might be the form player of Super Rugby, but don't pencil him in for an All Blacks test jersey just yet.
At least that's the narrative that Steve Hansen was at pains to express on Wednesday, as he looked ahead to Saturday night's final between the Crusaders and the Lions.
The 24-year-old first-five has been in scintillating form during the back-half of the competition, guiding the Crusaders with the poise and skillset of a test match veteran.
- Dane Coles returns to All Blacks set-up for training camp
- Lions land in 'rugby-man country' for final against Crusaders
All Blacks coach Hansen has been impressed by Mo'unga's maturity, but stressed it is still too early to anoint the Canterbury native the test match number 10.
"He's playing behind a Rolls Royce pack," Hansen said. "He is playing the way we would expect him to play behind a pack as good as that.
"It's going to be interesting to see how he does in a big game like Saturday's. I'm looking forward to see how he drives the team around the park.
"[I'm] keen to get him back with us and build him to get him ready for test match rugby. He has an exciting future."
Mo'unga's form is a big reason why the Crusaders are the huge betting favourite to go back-to-back against the Lions. Hansen, however, has cautioned fans of the red and black.
The 59-year-old has pin-pointed one of the darkest days of his career as proof not to assume anything in sport.
"I think Cantabrians need to be more aware that it's a two-horse race," Hansen said.
"You only have to think back to 2007 against France in Cardiff. People didn't think France could win that game and we got smacked, and smacked quite badly.
"Whilst you would expect the Crusaders to go out there favourites, there is no guarantee they will win it. They need to go out and earn it. It's a good Lions pack with a good forward pack and exciting backs."
When pressed, Hansen wouldn't discuss if he thought there were any weaknesses in the Crusaders - stating that as a fan of his former side, he wants to see a red and black win on Saturday.
"I'm not about to tell the Lions how to get the job done - that would be silly," Hansen said.
Newshub.
