All Blacks greats debate Scott Robertson’s playmaking conundrum after Damian McKenzie ‘not what we expected’
Playmakers Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett in action for the All Blacks.
All Blacks greats Sir John Kirwan and Jeff Wilson have urged Scott Robertson to back Damian McKenzie despite mixed performances against England.
Following Richie Mo’unga’s departure after the Rugby World Cup, the head coach selected his successor for the recent series with the Red Rose.
McKenzie, after a couple of stunning years at the Chiefs, was chosen to take that role, but he could not quite ignite the All Blacks attack over the past two weeks.
They found themselves behind in both matches going into the third quarter before Beauden Barrett came on to inspire a turnaround.
Barrett was once the first choice New Zealand fly-half but he found himself at full-back in 2023 with Mo’unga the preferred option at number 10.
Many expected him to reprise that full-back role under Robertson, but the inexperienced Stephen Perofeta was handed an opportunity to impress.
Although there were promising moments from Perofeta, Barrett showcased his class when he came onto the field and enabled New Zealand to defeat England 2-0.
With the All Blacks looking so much better with the 33-year-old in the side, he will be pressing for a starting spot in the Rugby Championship, whether at 10 or 15.
Keeping faith with McKenzie
“There’s a couple of factors we have to take in to consideration,” Kirwan said on The Breakdown. “Impact players come off the bench and the opposition were tired, and he was outstanding. This guy is world-class.
“But let’s get back to the first five discussion. Beauden hasn’t played there for a few years, he’s been our full-back.
“It took Daniel Carter a loss in 2007, an injury [in 2011]. Mo’unga, who’s been amazing, it took him a couple of years to take the team and go, ‘it’s mine’, and we nearly won a World Cup with his leadership.
“You can’t just go, ‘that’s it’ after two Test matches. Does he need to improve his kicking game? Yes, he’ll know that. Does he need to use his voice a bit more? They’ll know that.
“If we’re going to commit to someone for the next three years, you’ve got to commit to him. You’ve got to commit to him and go, ‘let’s go son because it’s your football team.’
“That’s the only position I believe in the world where you need to do that. It’s like the quarterback in the NFL, they’ve got to have complete trust, and they feel when they’re not trusted.
“I think that his first two Test matches haven’t been what we expected, and that’s mainly around his kicking game. When you’re struggling with a little part of your game then you’re not playing with the confidence that you need.”
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New combination
The All Blacks are in the midst of a rebuild after the departure of several greats, which included scrum-half Aaron Smith. That means there has been a new player in each of the main playmaking spots.
“The three most critical decision-making positions are nine, 10 and 15; they’re all new to that position essentially,” Wilson said.
“If you’re talking about experience, Finlay Christie as a starter, Damian McKenzie as a starter. He’s started seven Tests at first five for the All Blacks, that’s all.
“Yes, he may have been in the environment, played a number of games at full-back, but he’s played just seven Test matches, so he hasn’t been given the keys to the car here. He hasn’t been given the opportunity to control the All Blacks.
“Last year when he got his opportunity, he was very, very good, so I think we’ve got to understand that he’s a special talent.”
While Perofeta is still finding his way in Test rugby, Wilson would like to see a change at full-back to allow McKenzie and Barrett to start together.
Robertson has done that for the Fiji Test, with Barrett one of 11 changes for the San Diego encounter, but it is not guaranteed that they will combine in the Rugby Championship.
‘An extra voice’
“I think if you now combine him [and Barrett]. I thought Beauden Barrett would start at full-back in these two Test matches, they went in another direction,” Wilson added.
“There were some critical plays in this [England] game that Damian McKenzie did really well.
“To suggest that he is not ready to run this team, I think he is. He was just doing it with an inexperienced full-back and a player that sat behind Aaron Smith for a long time in Finlay Christie.
“He needs the benefit of time and I would like to see him start at 10 again and I would play Beauden Barrett at full-back.
“Beauden will help him take control of the situation a little bit more, he will give him a little bit of an extra voice.”
