World record looms for Barrett

Richie Mo’unga may have put forward yet another compelling case for inclusion, but so long as Beauden Barrett stays as the All Blacks first fiveeighth, he remains poised to break a world record.

Barrett hasn’t dotted down in his two outings since his four-try stunner in the Bledisloe Cup-retaining win over Australia at Eden Park in August, but when he does cross the line again it will draw him level with former team-mate Dan Carter for the most tries ever scored by a starting No 10.

Carter’s record sits at 24, from 94 tests started at first-five, while Barrett is on 23 from just 36 tests, boasting an unbelievable strike rate.

Overall, Carter notched 29 fivepointers in his 112 tests, having had six outings at second five-eighth and six appearances off the bench, while Barrett has 30 tries from 68 tests, which includes two starts at fullback and 30 games from the reserves.

Incidentally, Barrett’s six tries as a substitute is a joint world record in itself, equal with former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell (17 tests), former Romanian prop Petrisor Toderasc (25 tests), former Australian hooker Jeremy Paul (38 tests) and Argentina halfback Tomas Cubelli (42 tests).

While a traditional game manager he is not, the numbers just illustrate how Barrett, 27, has been able to utilise his unique attributes to devastating effect in a remodelled version of the playmaking role.

Carter, remarkably, went 35 tests without a try to end his career. His final five-pointer in the black jersey came against Scotland at Murrayfield, in 2010.

Behind Carter and Barrett, the nextmost prolific No 10 is Stephen Larkham, who scored 20 tries from 84 tests for the Wallabies from 1998-2007, while the next highest current player trailing Barrett is another Australian in Bernard Foley (13 from 49).