Barrett vs McKenzie: Why Dan Carter would ‘hate to be Scott Robertson’

All Blacks great Dan Carter would “hate to be Scott Robertson” as the coach continues to fight an intense selection headache that plagued the national team in 2024, with Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett both vying for the same starting spot.

New Zealand are set to start their international season against an understrength French side at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 5, and while that Test is still a few months away, supporters continue to speculate on the makeup of coach Robertson’s side.

Du’Plessis Kirifi has emerged as a fan favourite to debut for the All Blacks, as have Highlanders duo Timoci Tavatavanawai and Caleb Tangitau. Yet, one of the biggest unknowns facing the All Blacks in 2025 surrounds ‘Razor’ Robertson’s selection in the No. 10 jumper.

McKenzie started at first five-eighth in the first eight Tests in 2024 before dropping to the bench for the second Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies in Wellington. Barrett would ultimately finish the year as the team’s first-choice playmaker.

World Rugby still recognised McKenzie as the best fly-half in the game by including the All Black in the official Dream Team, which was unveiled in Monaco last November. But with both men standing out in Super Rugby Pacific, who starts this year remains a mystery.

“I think they’re really lucky to actually have two quality players,” Carter told RugbyPass at Singapore’s National Stadium last weekend.

“We all know the attacking capabilities of Beauden and what he’s capable of but having his experience there to kind of rely on him when we need, you just know what you’re going to get from him on a consistent basis.

“And DMac, he’s still growing and learning and the lessons that he would’ve learned from last year would’ve been huge for him and really helped guide him in the future.

“I’d hate to be Scott Robertson at the moment, trying to decide between the two.

“Just to have two quality players like that in the 10 jersey is really beneficial.”

McKenzie has played a key role in the Chiefs’ dominance so far this season, with the playmaker starting the season at fullback before shifting to first five-eighth. Coach Clayton McMillan has named McKenzie at fullback ahead of Friday’s clash with the Waratahs in Sydney, though.

With a two-try haul to open the season in a promising win over the Blues in Auckland, which was followed by other masterful performances against the Blues in Hamilton and Moana Pasifika, some fans believe McKenzie is ready to take hold of the All Blacks’ No. 10 jersey once again.

But don’t forget about Barrett, who returned from injury last weekend to steer the Blues towards a much-needed 19-18 win over the Hurricanes at Eden Park. The former two-time World Rugby Player of the Year nailed a late penalty which ended up determining the thrilling clash.

Barrett was the only Super Rugby player in round eight to receive full votes from the opposing captain and coach in the race for the league’s Most Valuable Player.  The Rugby World Cup winner will start in the halves alongside Finlay Christie again this weekend.

While McKenzie was dropped for Barrett towards the end of last year’s international campaign – although ‘DMac’ was named Player of the Match in an upset win over Ireland in Dublin – Robertson has a tough decision to make in a matter of months.

“It would’ve been tough for [McKenzie] at the backend of the season, having worked so hard and played a key role in the 10 jersey for the majority of the season,” Carter added.

“But that competition is healthy. I know they’re both really good mates. They’ll be helping each other on and off the pitch as well and that’s one of the values of the All Blacks – it’s always a team-first mentality.

“They’ll both be competing and pushing against each other but also helping each other along the way as well and doing what’s best for the team. Pretty lucky to have such quality there.”