All Blacks fans delighted to see a combination they have been campaigning for
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has one of the hardest jobs in rugby trying to fit all the talent at his disposal into one team.
Every time he names a squad there are invariably a number of players that are unlucky not to be starting or playing at all. But one of the biggest problems that had been developing all Super Rugby season was the form of his fly-halves.
Richie Mo’unga steered the Crusaders to a third consecutive Super Rugby title and was widely seen as the best 10 in the competition. Meanwhile, Beauden Barrett, the two-time World Player of the Year, took the Hurricanes very close to beating the eventual champions in the semi-final.
With arguably the two best fly-halves in the world vying to start for their country, questions have been asked throughout the season as to how they can both play for the All Blacks.
The only solution that many fans could come up with was playing Barrett at full-back, which is what Hansen has opted for against the Springboks in Wellington this Saturday.
? WATCH | All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen talks through his selections for Saturday’s Test Match against the Springboks, in Wellington.#BACKBLACK pic.twitter.com/QNyE13hYNT
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) July 24, 2019
With the bulk of Crusaders players missing last weekend’s Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires, Barrett started at 10, but the return of Mo’unga means it was high time for Hansen to try this out before the World Cup.
A lot of All Blacks fans on social media are delighted with this decision, as it provides two elite playmakers in the backline. Mo’unga is perhaps a stronger kicker at 10, while Barrett comfortably has the pace to play in the back three and could look dangerous in the outside channels. It is a backline that many have been campaigning for all season, and feel it could be lethal if it clicks.
The All Blacks respond to the Springboks naming their A team. https://t.co/B94tN581Tr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 24, 2019
This is a fairly experimental All Blacks side, with some regulars such as Ardie Savea and Sam Cane not starting, while Aaron Smith is dropped to the bench.
However, with the World Cup less than two months away, this is the time to experiment, and trying out the Mo’unga-Barrett 10-15 combination now may pay off in September. This is what the fans have said:
??? this team is red hot! ??? Richie on 1??0?? and Beauden on 1??5?? saw that coming from a mile away ?? that combo is too good to resist ? https://t.co/Zn9m9ypEEc
— The Rick Sanchez of Rugby ?? (@RugbyRickSZ) July 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Ntsido_Z/status/1154074650227466241?s=20
Goodness me that backline ???????. Beauden coming in as the first receiver in 6/7th phase?? https://t.co/5hIcNVX08c
— Nqobile Madela (@nqobzasheen) July 24, 2019
Moung'a and Barrett starting. A two-pronged attack it is,add Bender too
Sonny Bill is back, as is Read. Bring this one already https://t.co/J80a8hHtzE— matolo vitolo (@_martinjoroge_) July 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/nonimuriuki/status/1154090629368094721?s=20
BB at 15 and Richie at 10 ??????
— Christopher Logan (@CLCourtney82) July 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/GSMCHARLIE/status/1154143944965382144?s=20
Richie Mo'Unga – 10??
Barrett – 15??Boks won't see what hit them?. https://t.co/2y0G5PzxB2
— mass. (@ordinarymanmasi) July 24, 2019
Richie at 10 beaudy at 15 ? https://t.co/TTD1gFOTXU
— Rith Clegane (@_harithaiman) July 25, 2019
Imagine having a team so deep you could displace Barrett. The flip side of course is Mo’unga certainly earned it with the season he had
— Mr Potato S Thompson Head (@deluded_jim) July 24, 2019
Playing Barrett at full-back is not a completely novel idea for the All Blacks, as he is accustomed to the position. It has not been uncommon for Hansen in the past to move Barrett to 15 in the latter stages of the game when bringing Mo’unga on.
Likewise, he had to make do with playing there at the beginning of his career when Dan Carter wore the black jersey. However, this is the first time he has started at full-back since 2013 for the All Blacks.
The Springboks have named a very strong side, as the teams face off for the final time before their pool stage match in the World Cup. Furthermore, Wellington was also the venue of South Africa’s huge victory against the All Blacks last year, meaning there is a lot riding on this match for both teams.
Some may say that this is not the game to experiment in while equally, some will say that this is the perfect time to try new things under the most pressure before the World Cup.
Mo’unga and Barrett are both world-class and many fans have got what they wish for, but the players must now repay Hansen’s faith in them.
WATCH: The All Blacks clinch a first series win over Springboks in South Africa in 58 years, but they haven’t toured there since then outside of RWC or Rugby Championship
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments