How the ABs No 10 revolution evolved

Once, it was hearts in mouths time when the All Blacks suffered an injury at first- five.

For the better part of a decade they only had the one player who could do the job. From 2004 to 2012 there was Daniel Carter and no one else — as if he had sucked up every available development resource leaving none for anyone else.

It was an edgy time. Every bump and bruise Carter suffered invoked a mild panic — a sense of dread about what would happen if he had to go off or miss the next game.

There was little certainty about who would take his place and such was the state of affairs that in 2005, for the deciding match of the Tri Nations against South Africa, Leon MacDonald started at first- five having not played there since his teens.

But that period of spinning the lottery wheel has been confined to history.

The fault in the No 10 production line is gone, which is why there has been no endless fretting or uneasiness to greet the news that Beauden Barrett i s not available to play the Wallabies in Brisbane. Instead, there is a quiet level of intrigue and optimi sm as to what Lima Sopoaga will bring to the role in his second start after a handful of cameos this year.

We want decisionmakers and we want them to have a voice as well as do the basic things of run, catch and pass.

developed beautifully over the years. He has done a great job with the Highlanders and is now starting to settle with us.”

There’s maybe one other critical factor that has helped the first- five stocks replenish. The national team and Super Rugby sides have worked in closer alignment in regard to the sorts of skills they both expect of a playmaker.

There is now agreement between all five Super Rugby clubs and the All Blacks about what core skills a firstfive should possess.

“We have got a bit more specific about the core skills that we want them to have and have a good relationship with the franchises so we can talk to them about what we want,” says Foster.

“We have probably got greater alignment about what we want out of 10s. Because in the past we have tended to adapt to our game based on the skill set of the No 10 at the time. Whereas we have kind of figured that if we can have our No 9s and 10s doing a few of those same things, there is a better chance of taking our game up a level.

“If you look at the way the modern game i s run and you ask what you want out of your 10 . . . yes we want decision- makers and yes we want them to have a voice as well as do the basic things of run, catch and pass.”