Jordie Barrett likely at 10 as All Blacks recycle blueprint
Eyebrows may be raised when the All Blacks unveil their team to play Canada on Wednesday.
Widespread changes from the side that put away the Springboks are inevitable but one in particular — who wears the No 10 jersey — may set tongues wagging.
With two matches in four days — the other against Namibia — the All Blacks are essentially preparing for two games at once. And after selecting two first five-eighths in their World Cup squad, the All Blacks always knew they would need to experiment during this period to manage the workloads of Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett.
There seems no point risking those dual playmakers by asking them to feature in the next two games on such a short turnaround.
Jordie Barrett may, therefore, start at first-five against Canada, or at least spend considerable time there.
The Hurricanes utility is comfortable at fullback, wing and in the midfield, but two years ago, he played half the drawn match against the British and Irish Lions from first-five.
His booming punt and long-range goalkicking could be handy assets for a match the All Blacks are expected to win at a canter.
Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara is another candidate to shift out one spot but the All Blacks may prefer to start him in his accustomed role.
Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty is the third option to play 10 but he started against the Boks and may be needed to cover Sonny Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue, who are expected to be paired in the midfield next week.
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster stopped short of saying who will start at No 10 against Canada but strongly hinted it would not be Mo’unga or Beauden Barrett.
“At a tournament, you always have to compromise at some point with a squad of 31. That was an area we decided to compromise and to leave someone like Josh [Ioane] at home but we’re satisfied with the people we’ve got there, so we’ll let you know.
“We’ve got a clear idea. We’ve got a number of options. We have the ability to play both our 10s in each of the two games and have other people to cover.”
The All Blacks plan to use their full squad in these next two matches and target specific aspects of their game.
Four years ago, they appeared to muddle their way through pool play with a series of unconvincing performances.
As anxiety grew outside the team, coach Steve Hansen explained the All Blacks were holding aspects back and deliberately challenging themselves in certain areas.
Just as they have done earlier this week, they also endured heavy conditioning sessions which allowed them to taper and refresh for their quarter-final. This blueprint, it seems, is again being adopted.
“I learnt not to listen to criticism and to believe in the plan,” Foster said of this same period four years ago. “You don’t win this tournament by winning all your pool games, you win it by qualifying for the knockouts and having your game at a point where you are confident to go and win three games after that.”