The Timaru Herald

Spoilt for choice

Star backs Richie Mo’unga, Damian McKenzie and Beauden and Jordie Barrett have all been in good form this year, whether in New Zealand or Japan. But can All Blacks coach Ian Foster get them all on the field at the same time? Richard Knowler and Marc Hinto

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RICHARD KNOWLER

Set up camp by keeping Richie Mo’unga at No 10.

Once that’s done All Blacks coach Ian Foster can begin the task of deciding whether he can also fit his other precious pieces, in the form of Beauden and Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie, into the All Blacks’ puzzle.

If Foster wants to weaponise his backline, he must begin by placing the most important component into the circuit board first. That, in theory, should enable the attack to function at warp speed, and with maximum efficiency.

By locking-in Mo’unga, who is probably in the best form of his career, at first five-eighth Foster removes the temptation to consider Beauden Barrett for the job.

Barrett has let everyone know how much he covets the first-five role for the tests, and that’s fine; although he appeared happy to relocate to fullback ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, at the behest of former All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen and under Foster last year, Barrett hankers to return to No 10.

There are a couple of things he needs to get his head around. In fact, he probably already has.

The first point is that Mo’unga has been in the hottest form of his career for the Crusaders. The second is that he’s been playing in the Super Rugby Aotearoa and trans-Tasman competitio­ns.

Barrett also knitted together a string of good performanc­es for Suntory Goliath in Japan’s Top League, but without wanting to sound unkind that tournament isn’t renowned for its rapid defensive lines or bone-jarring tackles.

Had Barrett remained at the Blues, instead of transferri­ng to Japan, we could have scrutinise­d and compared his performanc­es to that of Mo’unga every week.

But he didn’t, so we couldn’t. Which means this is a one-way conversati­on.

Should Barrett then be asked to start at fullback? No. Not when younger brother Jordie and McKenzie, the latter currently serving a three-week suspension for a high shot on the Reds’ Tate McDermott on May 29, have been churning out high quality efforts for the Hurricanes and Chiefs.

Last season McKenzie made four appearance­s for the All Blacks, starting just once in the season opening 16-all draw with the Wallabies in Wellington.

If he’s again unable to lock down a regular starting gig, he would have reason to feel short-changed.

During their charge into the Aotearoa final, the resurgent Chiefs fed off McKenzie’s energy; his running of the ball back from the deep, cover tackles and knack of taking the high ball in mid-air was of a standard few could match.

That, combined with the transition to first-five in the second half, enabled the Chiefs to maintain control and closeout games.

So Mo’unga and McKenzie should start the tests against Tonga and Fiji next month.

If Mo’unga gets injured, McKenzie can move to playmaker and with Jordie Barrett on the bench there’s an insurance policy in place. Barrett can cover fullback, wing, midfield and at a pinch firstfive.

As for Beauden Barrett? Great player, yes. But, right now, there’s no room at the inn.

Mo’unga, McKenzie and Jordie

Barrett deserve to be rewarded for what they have achieved with their New Zealand teams.

MARC HINTON

It’s a blessing, not a curse, having four such talented players as Beauden and Jordie Barrett, Richie Mo’unga and Damian McKenzie covering your two chief playmaking roles.

Ian Foster’s challenge, as All Blacks coach, is to keep it that way.

The latter three have all reaffirmed their class in Super Rugby through 2021, and the former has now returned from his sabbatical playing in Japan, no doubt fresher, and possibly as motivated as he’s ever been to continue to prove his status as one of the game’s premier attacking threats.

Here’s where it gets a little complicate­d. When push comes to shove, and the footy gets really serious (ie not for July’s creampuff schedule), there are probably only two starting positions in which to house these four contenders.

Yes, there is always a spot on the wing to get a bit, er, creative, but to my way of thinking that would be a big, big mistake that Foster has made previously, and which hardly turned out swimmingly.

Let’s cross that off first, and it will allow us to tackle the real crux of the matter – how the All Blacks best use their four premier playmaking talents in 2021 and beyond.

Foster picked Jordie Barrett on the right wing for most of the big tests in 2020 in a compromise that saw him move Beauden Barrett to fullback and then his younger brother to No 14.

That created a scenario where the starting All Black fullback and right wing were both playing in their least preferred, and nonspecial­ist, positions, and frankly created problems where none should have existed.

Beauden Barrett is a fair enough fullback. But a much better No 10. He knows that and has made it clear to anyone willing to listen that he would like to return to the first receiver’s position for the All Blacks.

Jordie Barrett, on the other hand, is an outstandin­g fullback, and really just a run-of-the-mill right wing. It might be his third or fourth best position in a backline, behind No 15, and maybe midfield and first five-eighths.

So how to proceed from here? For me it becomes a straight call between Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett at No 10, with Mo’unga first choice based on an outstandin­g Super Rugby campaign. He is at the peak of his powers and deserves first crack. Barrett has to reprove himself, and has the time to do so.

Then it becomes a choice between Jordie Barrett and McKenzie at No 15 (though Will Jordan hovers too), and for all D-Mack’s X-factor and runs on the board for the Chiefs, at test level Barrett the younger appears the best bet. Plus that long-range kicking comes in handy.

Let’s say the All Blacks were playing the Springboks tomorrow: I would start Mo’unga at 10, Jordie Barrett at 15, and have Beauden Barrett on the bench covering both. McKenzie is the unlucky omission but is some Plan B.

Then the ball is in Beauden Barrett’s court to earn selection ahead of Mo’unga, and likewise for McKenzie at No 15.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? The selectors have to grapple with the dilemma of trying to shoe-horn world class players (from left) Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie into the All Blacks 23.
GETTY IMAGES The selectors have to grapple with the dilemma of trying to shoe-horn world class players (from left) Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie into the All Blacks 23.
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 ??  ?? All Blacks coach Ian Foster tried to juggle the quartet around last season with mixed success.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster tried to juggle the quartet around last season with mixed success.

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