Both teams have stars who spell double trouble

Tokyo – New Zealand and England will both employ double playmakers in a Rugby World Cup semifinal that is shaping as a battle of wits between coaches Steve Hansen and Eddie Jones.

The All Blacks are sticking with their recent innovation of having goal-kicking Richie Mo’unga slotting in at flyhalf, with two-time World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett in a free-roaming fullback role.

England coach Jones has recalled George Ford at No 10 after benching him for the quarterfinal against a physical Australia, with skipper Owen Farrell shifting to inside centre.

The decision by Hansen and Jones to accommodate two outand-out playmakers apiece opens up all kinds of attacking options for both sides.

Importantly, it means teams don’t lose their structure when a flyhalf is out of position because he has been tackled or sucked into a breakdown.

It is no surprise that New Zealand and England have been so successful, having transformed the traditional blueprint of halfback selection.

“Halfbacks are two plus one. There is nine, 10 and then there is another,” former England flyhalf Paul Grayson argues in his BBC column.

“For New Zealand, it is nine Aaron Smith, 10 Richie Mo’unga and then there is Beauden Barrett at 15. For England, it is scrumhalf Ben Youngs, flyhalf George Ford and Owen Farrell at 12.”

Jones said childhood friends Ford and Farrell “bring a tactical awareness – when you play New Zealand you have to be practically very smart, and George and Owen together are probably at the forefront in that area in the world”.

“New Zealand always show a propensity to change the order of the way they play and it will be up to our team to understand that clearly at the start of the game,” he said.

“One thing about playing New Zealand is that you have to be alive all the time, they are always in the game, always looking for opportunities – our players are equipped for that and are ready to go.”

One of the buzzwords at the Rugby World Cup in Japan has been “transition”, the moments when a player turns defence into attack – and vice-versa.

“This is the area where the All Blacks rule,” said former Crusaders

and Australia coach Robbie Deans.

And there is no better example of a player who transitions seamlessly than Barrett, who was sensational in the All Blacks’ opening 23-13 pool victory over South

Africa and the 46-14 quarterfinal demolition of Ireland.

“If we make mistakes, drop the ball, lose it, turnover, you see what a threat Beauden Barrett is and his speed,” warned England scrumhalf Youngs. –