Analysis: What the All Blacks search for in a 10 compared to the rest of the world
There are a number of attributes required to become a professional flyhalf.
In New Zealand, there is a specific ‘type’ that is sought after, a player who has the fundamental abilities but is gifted in a way where core skills are accessible in quick succession in such a way that the player can operate on instinct to chaos unfolding around him.
It is the mastery of the three attacking options – running, kicking and passing – which separates those that often go on to become All Black 10’s, and it is the special ability to keep all three options open to make big plays that is commonly found among them.
Once they hone their vision and decision-making skills to deploy the necessary skill at the right time, they become unstoppable playmakers on their day.
Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenie and Richie Mo’unga – all All Black 10’s over this decade – have this ability in their own unique style, with varying degrees of strength in each skill area, while Dan Carter was regarded as the most complete product ever.
To illustrate how this kind of attacking 10 plays on a defensive line, consider the ‘influence factor’ of a flyhalf using Beauden Barrett as an example below.
If a 10 is not a running threat first and foremost, then he won’t conceivably get past a one-on-one scenario very often.
The aligned defender can take him down nearly every time, so the 10’s influence factor doesn’t extend past one defender.
Now consider that the 10 is a running threat, with enough footwork and agility to beat his man often, forcing either defender on either side to potentially cover.
The 10’s circle of influence now extends to three, as these three defenders have to be aware and be ready to make a tackle if the first man misses.
Many flyhalves fit into this category but many fail to develop the necessary ball-handling skills to reach the next level of influence, where the 10 has the ability to make a late pass or in contact.
If the 10 does possess late-passing and offloading skills, the circle of influence extends to potentially five players in the defensive line, two on either side of the first defender.
Theses outside players are required to be on hand in the case of an offload or late pass to a support option.
In this example, Barrett takes on the line by using a smart change of angle to skip to the inside shoulder of his aligned defender
Taulupe Faletau, beating him momentarily to entice the interest of the next defender.
Barrett shapes to pass to his inside support option and extends the ball out in two hands to see what the inside defender will do.
Once the inside defender seems interested enough, he releases the pass forcing the third man to make the tackle.
The Welsh player (5) who eventually made the tackle on the play started the phase folding around the ruck.
Consider what could happen if that player is tired, not working hard, or momentarily switches off.
Barrett’s influence factor extends so far across the defensive line that every time he touches the ball, upwards of five players in the immediate vicinity needs to be fully aware of what is going on.
When there is a favourable mismatch with a tight five forward, the opportunity to take the line on is too enticing as the first man can be beaten quite easily, starting a ‘black hole’ which sucks in players and opens up gaps.
Just one of the surrounding players switching off or taking a break could result in a line break for the opposition.
When you add in an attacking kicking game, you can include the wingers and the fullbacks that need to have awareness for a total influence factor of seven players or nearly half the team.
However, what looks rather simple from Barrett is not. Agility with ball-in-hand is not the same as agility without it.
In the example against Wales, he used footwork to cut back inside off the left foot while simultaneously keeping the passing option open with the ball in two hands, processing the movements of multiple defenders before picking the optimal time to release the pass.
It’s a combination of instinctual movement with his feet, reading visual cues like body language, the anticipation of what those cues mean and then bringing it together with the ball skills and decision-making around the pass.
Many players who possess great feet don’t possess the ability to anticipate the passing option at the same time and ‘tuck’ the ball away which prevents a pass from being made.
Another All Black that will feature at 10 in the future, Damian McKenzie, has this type of playmaking ability in spades. Against England last year, the fullback-come-first five plays first receiver with no imminent space available.
In the space of two seconds, he will open up England’s defence and take the opportunity to put a supporting player away.
While the ball travels through the air, there isn’t any signs of weakness in the defensive line, but by the time McKenzie catches it, a disconnect has formed between Kyle Sinckler (3) and Owen Farrell (10).
Farrell pushed hard off the line while Sinckler wasn’t set to come forward when the halfback’s pass was released.
McKenzie’s instincts take over and he has the wherewithal to make a sharp cut off the right foot to attack the space. He beats Farrell ends up, forcing Sinckler and Underhill to cover his miss.
Although he will force these two other defenders to make the tackle, it will actually be Jamie George (16) that ends up paying the price for Farrell’s miss, highlighting the extent of McKenzie’s influence.
His ability to get the ball away in the tackle catches out Jamie George (16) who can’t cover Ben Smith (14), a faster player that has ‘won’ the race to the space next to Underhill.
Smith breaks away downfield but the opportunity is lost for the All Blacks when the last pass goes astray, but the opportunity for seven points was there.
From absolutely nothing, McKenzie created something. A combination of vision, athletic ability, and skills created a line break with space that was never there.
It is artistry that cannot be scripted or pre-planned, but mastery of all the skills provides control and reduces the risk.
When you have multiple players that have these abilities, the opportunities compound.
If the team creates line breaks via other methods, simply getting the ball into these players’ hands with a fractured or thin defence on the next phase is a high priority.
There are many other flyhalves that get to this level but some systems don’t prioritise this kind of flyhalf.
Where McKenzie and Barrett have influence factors that reach as high as 6 or 7 when in top form, Australia continues to go after 10’s that have lower influence factors in favour of ‘steady’ hands, players with ability in some of the areas but not all three – but this ultimately hamstrings their attacking play. It is part of a systemic problem why the Wallabies’ haven’t produced a new 10 in over a decade and many of their projects end up at 12.
Quade Cooper is the purest Wallaby 10 there has been but didn’t get to maximize his career at the international level and his talent will go down as a waste by Rugby Australia. His best form came when the coaching staff seemed to work with his talents instead of trying to manage it.
Scotland’s Finn Russell has purple patches reaching this high level of flyhalf play but has inconsistencies. Owen Farrell and George Ford have shown this ability but conform to the national style of play in England, which has also been successful, it must be said. Joey Carbery in Ireland has all the gifts required to become this type of player. While Sexton has the ball-playing nous his running game will continue to decline in potency with his age.
South African play is 9-dominant but if Curwin Bosch was in New Zealand he would be earmarked to be brought through to the All Blacks by now.
There are many other quality playmakers but only in New Zealand are they so prioritized and sought after at the flyhalf position. Game managers don’t become All Black 10’s, they must be ‘game changers’.
NRL journalist hits out at Rugby Australia:
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
7 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments