Barrett gets chance to impress
• Coach retains underperforming flyhalf in All Blacks team to face Australia in the Rugby Championship opener
Amid speculation that Beauden Barrett’s place in the All Blacks side could be under threat, the flyhalf will find himself under increased scrutiny on Saturday when they face Australia in the Rugby Championship opener in Sydney.
While Barrett had a belowpar season with the Hurricanes, Richie Mo’unga was in superb form for the Crusaders as they won their ninth Super Rugby title. Mo’unga’s performances sparked debate in New Zealand as to whether he should replace Barrett for Saturday’s match (kickoff 12.05pm SA time) but All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has kept faith with the two-times world player of the year.
Mo’unga did not even make it to the bench for the Test, which doubles as the opening game of the Bledisloe Cup series.
While Hansen has been able to name arguably his strongest side, he was forced to make a late change after replacement prop Ofa Tuungafasi was ruled out with a rib injury and Tim Perry moved on to the bench.
Captain Kieran Read and Brodie Retallick return after not having played for the world champions since 2017.
“It’s exciting having someone of Kieran’s ability in the lineout, his ball-carrying strength, and under pressure he’s been there and done that,” said Hansen.
“It’s a massive asset to have him, and you can chuck Guzzler [Retallick] in there as well and Sam Cane, who didn’t have a big French series. Those three guys give us a little more starch.”
That “starchiness” should test Michael Cheika’s Wallabies, who struggled in the forwards against Six Nations champions Ireland in June and were starved of ball in the 2-1 series loss.
Cheika’s team will need to avoid the slow starts that have seen the All Blacks disappear over the horizon over the past two years. The All Blacks raced to a 32-3 lead by halftime in 2016 before winning 42-8, while in 2017 they were leading 54-6 after 48 minutes before the Wallabies regrouped and reduced the deficit to 54-34.
Cheika thinks those slow starts could be attributed to rust as most of his side played no part in the Super Rugby playoffs, thanks to Australian teams’ struggles in the competition. To counter that this time, the Wallabies coach organised a warmup match two weeks ago.
While Cheika has a superb attacking axis in Will Genia, Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale, his biggest concern in the backs heading into the competition, which also includes Argentina and SA, is at centre.
With Samu Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani both injured, Cheika has turned to utility back Reece Hodge to shut down the All Blacks midfield.
Hodge, who mostly played flyhalf for the Rebels this season, should add to the Wallabies’ playmaking, but how he organises the defence will be his biggest challenge.
Especially if Barrett plays to his potential.