Get ready for Mo’unga-Barrett II
After their mixed bag first-up, expect more of the Richie Mo’ungaBeauden Barrett playmaking tandem in Perth this weekend as the All Blacks look to take a major step up in their attacking execution.
Luckily for them, back-to-back tests against a vulnerable Wallabies outfit might be just what the doctor ordered in terms of instilling some much needed fluency, momentum and offensive spark into the New Zealand game ahead of the Rugby World Cup selection cutoff.
You could say the All Blacks are in a funk, if you only factored in their first two Rugby Championship performances. It was hardly vintage stuff as they ground their way to an unimpressive 20-16 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires and were then held 16-16 by the Boks in Wellington in a strange contest lacking commitment or coherence from either side.
But there were reasons for that, mainly around careful plans to share the load and opportunities through those first two outings of 2019. As Steve Hansen has told us over and over and over, those tests were pretty low on the priority scale.
But now it gets serious. Now the acid goes on to up the performance several notches. Now is when the All Blacks start to build form, confidence and cohesion for the real stuff that looms.
And that surely means more of Mo’unga and Barrett in that first five/fullback duel playmaking combination. It wasn’t horrible in Wellington. Nor was it perfect. But there were signs enough to
suggest it could work and it is fair to say they remain convinced and committed that it’s the best way to attack these flat defensive lines that are the norm now.
They are also convinced that having Barrett, Mo’unga and Ben Smith all on the field at the same time is their best option under the simple philosophy that you pick your best players and find a way to help them make it work together.
Mo’unga at first-five and Barrett at fullback may not yet be written in stone for the big games of the World Cup, but it’s option A. And the All Blacks need to see more of it.
What is more, Mo’unga and Barrett also need to play more in those roles. They need time in the saddle to build their own familiarity and confidence, which means the next two Bledisloes may well present as a final trial of sorts.
If things go well in Perth and Auckland then you can ink it in for Japan. If not, then at least they have a pretty decent Plan B in the ability to move Ben Smith back to fullback. (As an aside, this desire to have Barrett roaming as second playmaker comes about largely because of the style of player these All Blacks have at 12. Neither Sonny Bill Williams nor Ngani Laumape are accomplished first receivers; and while Ryan Crotty is better, it’s not a core strength.)
So, what else can we expect from the All Blacks this week as they eye those attack improvements?
Midfield remains a competitive area, and it just may be the contender under the most pressure is the fellow not even with the squad in Perth. Sonny Bill Williams needs to back up with something convincing in Counties Manukau’s first Mitre 10 Cup clash against Taranaki on Saturday.
The question marks over this veteran performer do not concern his ability to play at the highest level – just his body’s capability of staying the course.
It’s likely Williams is competing directly with Laumape for the fourth midfielder’s spot in Japan.
To that end expect Laumape to be given a bench role this weekend, with Anton LienertBrown and Jack Goodhue the starters.
Remember they are looking for a big move on attack. LienertBrown was outstanding for the Chiefs at 12. They see that combination as their best available in Perth.
The loose forward trio now effectively picks itself and, much like the Mo’unga-Barrett tandem, Saturday night presents as a fine chance for Ardie Savea, Sam Cane and Kieran Read to show they can make this work. The Luke Jacobson concussion worry has thrown a spanner in the works but only in terms of the backup options.
The rest should take care of itself, with Aaron Smith likely to resume starting halfback duty, Rieko Ioane given a chance to refind form on the left wing and Scott Barrett slot into the second row if he’s as fit as his coach says he is.
As mentioned, the Wallabies might be ideal opponents. In their last nine Bledisloes over the previous three seasons the New Zealanders’ average score has been 36.7. It is time to bring their mojo out from hiding.