Dan Carter issues ‘deep fear’ and ‘exciting’ verdict on All Blacks fly-half battle in build-up to World Cup
Legendary New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter and current All Blacks playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.
Dan Carter believes it’s still too early to decide who will be the All Blacks’ first-choice fly-half at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, although he is happy with the depth they have in the position.
Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett shared the fly-half duties for the All Blacks when Scott Robertson coached the men in black in 2024 and 2025.
Both the aforementioned players are also capable of playing at full-back, and McKenzie has featured in the number 15 jersey for the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific this year, while Barrett has started all of his games at fly-half for the Blues.
Although he has played at full-back for the Chiefs, McKenzie has been in action mostly at fly-half for the Hamilton-based franchise this year after up-and-coming number 10 Josh Jacomb initially started in that position for the Jonno Gibbes-coached outfit earlier this year.
Jacomb caught the eye with some fine performances while rookie All Blacks utility back Ruben Love has also shone for the Hurricanes at fly-half in Super Rugby Pacific and both players have entered the conversation as potential starting number 10s for New Zealand.
Richie Mo’unga set to return to New Zealand
Meanwhile, Richie Mo’unga, who was the All Blacks’ first-choice fly-half at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, is set to return to New Zealand after spending some time in Japan where he is currently plying his trade with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
Mo’unga has signed an 18-month contract with New Zealand Rugby, confirming his return for the 2027 season to represent the Crusaders and compete for a spot in the men in black’s 2027 World Cup squad.
Carter is delighted that there are so many players putting their hands up for New Zealand’s fly-half berth, but feels there is still plenty of rugby to be played before new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie decides who his first-choice number 10 is.
“I think we’re really lucky we’ve got some great depth. I guess the challenge is who’s going to put their hand up and really take that role over the next next couple of years and that’s something that probably hasn’t happened,” he told the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin.
“It’s kind of been shared a little bit once Richie departed.
‘It’s exciting’
“He took a bit of ownership, (at) the back-end of his time in New Zealand and then it’s been between Damian and Beaudy and now we’ve got a bit of young talent coming through. It’s exciting.
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“So we have deep fear, which is good, it’s just which one of those three or four players is gonna really put their hand up and go this is my position.
“Obviously, you got Richie coming back as well in the mix so that strengthens the depth so it’s a real positive.
“But I don’t think we can answer that question of who’s gonna be playing at the World Cup just yet because there’s still a lot of Test matches and a lot of footy to be played before then.
“But I think it’s an amazing opportunity for one of them to go right now that number 10 jersey’s mine.”
