Beauden should play for the ABs
finishing. For my money Ben Smith was the standout player, sublimely perfect in everything he did. I also make the point that Barrett could have scored three of his four tries from any position in the backline.
Nick Evans touched on this positional versatility when he said, ‘‘It’s scary. If they can get to a point where it doesn’t matter who stands at first receiver, if they can all see the same picture and execute, I can’t see any team in the world getting close to them.’’
‘‘The debate about [Beauden] Barrett has never worried about the games where he is at his best. That is to miss the point entirely.’’
Ihave never argued that Barrett should not be in the team. I have always argued that he is the best fullback in the world, and that is quite a claim given the brilliance of Ben Smith. Still, given how the All Blacks currently set up, Barrett is playing probably over half of his rugby in that position any way.
But the oddest part of this hysteria is the sudden adoration of Barrett as a 10 based on 30 minutes of broken field rugby. The debate about Barrett has never worried about the games where he is at his best. That is to miss the point entirely.
The debate is how far the All Blacks sink when Barrett is having one of his not infrequent off days. His passing and decision-making are vulnerable when his time is reduced.
It remains a fact that Cruden never lost a match in the All Blacks jersey when he started at 10. He was, of course, assisted by Barrett’s immense performances as an impact player, something that Damian McKenzie is now providing. It is not an easy role, as Johnny Sexton recently admitted after struggling to fulfil it in Ireland’s first test against Australia – and I suspect Mo’unga may also not be suited to it.
But for all the recent flam, questions remain over Barrett’s supremacy as a starting 10. He is no Dan Carter. In the last couple of years Barrett has presided over losses to the Lions and to Ireland. You could fairly argue that those are the only two top teams that the All Blacks have played in that time.
Not even their most fervent fans would claim that Australia, South Africa, England or France are even remotely close to their best teams from the previous 40 years. Indeed I am not sure that the collective standard has ever been so low; world rugby having been vandalised by the wretched French and English clubs.
I understand why the All Blacks selectors go with Barrett. He gives them backfield options, defensively and in counter-attack, that Mo’unga cannot match. But the selectors also know that Mo’unga’s tactical direction and passing accuracy from the 10 position are far superior.
Maybe I’m old-fashioned but I like my best players on the pitch. That means Mo’unga at 10, with Damian Mckenzie to replace him after 60 minutes, and a back three of Ben Smith, Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett. Time is starting to run out to make that move ahead of the World Cup, but the opposition is so bad that the All Blacks may yet get away with it.