All Blacks legend: Beauden Barrett ‘on the clock’ but Damian McKenzie is not a ‘permanent option’
All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett and an inset of Damian McKenzie.
Beauden Barrett needs a big performance, according to legendary All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson, after Damian McKenzie and Ruben Love impressed against France.
In his first game in charge of the All Blacks, head coach Dave Rennie opted to reward Super Rugby Pacific form, handing Love the number 10 jersey after his heroics with the Hurricanes, whilst McKenzie started at full-back.
With the duo in the starting XV, there was no need for additional full-back or fly-half cover in the matchday 23, meaning that for the first time since 2015, Barrett was not included in the first All Blacks teamsheet of the year.
The double playmaker ploy paid dividends for Rennie as his charges marched to a 34-32 victory over France with both players enjoying fine performances, McKenzie putting his Super Rugby Pacific Final mare behind him.
All Blacks’ full-back options
Love, McKenzie and Barrett are effectively fighting for the same positions in the All Blacks teams with their ability to cover full-back and fly-half. Speaking on Sky Sports NZ’s Breakdown show, Wilson argued that while McKenzie shone in the number 15 jersey, he doesn’t believe he is the permanent choice in the role going forward.
“Well, not yet, and for the reason that there are a number of players to come back into this environment, particularly one Richie Mo’unga. So, when you talk about competition for position, you need to prove you are significantly better than everybody else,” Wilson said during the ‘Full 80’ section of the show where he argued that McKenzie shouldn’t be the permanent full-back.
“So the All Blacks have options, and there is also versatility in how you want to play against different opposition, and they may want to see the likes of a Will Jordan or see whether or not Josh Morby has got the skill set and the nous to play at the international level.
“If you want to give yourself options that means you are not playing Damian McKenzie every single Test match at the full-back position. The competition is going to get very difficult, and there’s another guy you’re forgetting about: Beauden Barrett. He has been world-class in the 15 jersey for the All Blacks before.”
Legendary All Blacks full-back Mils Muliaina took the position that McKenzie is the first-choice, permanent full-back for Rennie’s side. He argued that the team needs consistency in selection going forward.
“He is, and I go on Jeff’s points: yes, there are so many other options, but right now, we need consistency. Let’s have a guy that played well in there,” he said.
“He releases pressure for this for his 10s. His kicking ability: he gets long nice kicks. His organisation, particularly in the wider channels, nowadays, we’re going out to some wider channels, and he’s organising guys out there. He had to come into the 10 when a yellow card had happened. So, he’s organised. He understands the pressure; he likes it.
“Also the kick pass from counterattack. We’ve heard Dave Rennie talk about set piece and things to try and do. He’s becoming aware of some of the opportunities this year. The downside, which he’ll get better at, is the high ball. But also putting him out there and having consistency of game time, he’ll be a lot better at that high ball. So, lock him in. He is also our best goal kicker.”
Ruben Love-Damian McKenzie axis
A lot has been made over the past few seasons about Will Jordan being selected on the wing, as many believe that the Crusaders star is the best full-back in the world. However, Rennie selected him on the wing in his first game in charge, with the outside back crossing for a brace of tries in the victory over Les Bleus.
Wilson backs the controversial selection as he believes that the dual playmaker axis worked wonders against the French.
“I’ve gone both ways around how we want to approach playing in our 15 position. And what I saw last in terms of skill set, the combination of Love and McKenzie and their ability to create with speed of their running game, they can hit holes that other players can’t hit, their footwork, and then their passing skills,” he remarked.
“So for me right now, he’s my first choice, Damian McKenzie, but he’s not the permanent option; they are two different things. I love this combination. I want to see them play again; Love and Mackenzie. I want to see them developing and understanding how we’re playing, but there’s a big thing here. Richie Mo’unga is going to be available.
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“So for me, can Ruben Love at some point go back to 15 and do exactly the same thing that Damian McKenzie has done there? I certainly believe so. So we’ve got options.”
Beauden Barrett needs a big performance
Asked by the show’s host what happens with Barrett now, Wilson said that the veteran back needs a big performance in the coming weeks after an underwhelming Super Rugby Pacific season.
” It’s going to be tough,” he replied.
“He’s a player who I’m interested to know when he gets his next opportunity. Does it come this week, and is he on the clock in terms of the big performance you need to see out of him?”
Muliaina added: “I’d have him out this week. Possibly off the bench, but it’s his experience, right? He’s going to he’s going to keep those other guys honest. He was running the water out, but just his presence. It is going to be hard.
“The role of the 10 and the 15 are very much sort of similar. They’re getting out to the outside channels. It’s not your traditional sort of full-back role now that we’re really used to. We’ve struggled in the last couple of years to sort of really define those two roles; it’s a nice mix of how that happens.”
