Former All Black names his preferred No.10 option for France Test

Love has started the past two Super Rugby Pacific games at No.10 for the Wellington-based franchise, and has been talked about as one of the options to start under new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie.

Experienced first-fives Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett are also options, but one former All Black has discussed why he believes Love could be what Rennie needs.

Justin Marshall, a current Sky Sport commentator and analyst, picked his starting XV for the All Blacks if they were to be playing France this weekend, meaning the likes of Scott Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, and Ardie Savea would be unavailable.

The former All Black picked Love at No.10, saying that if you have the likes of Barrett and McKenzie off the bench, it’s not a risky decision starting with the Hurricanes’ first-five.

“I just feel that this is his best jersey. And he said, look I’ll play 15, I’ll play anywhere. But when he got asked, and I think it was Taylah Johnson, asked him, he said, I played 10 throughout my age group. 10 is my favourite jersey and I love playing 10,” Marshall said on The Breakdown.

“That’s the jersey he knows the best. He just hasn’t had enough time in it in the professional environment for various reasons. Put him in there and Beauden Barrett’s still on the bench.

“I’m not saying throw out all of all those players that we know what we can get out of them. They’re still there to mentor, to be involved in the side. What I’m saying is, are we prepared to show the rest of the world attacking wise, that we’ve got something different here.

“If you give Ruben Love an opportunity to step you or turn in, he’s gonna rip a pass, or he’s gonna you’re gonna win you games with ball in hand at 10.”

Then, the 82-Test former All Black points out that if Rennie wants to move forward, evolve, and improve on the way that the All Blacks are playing, these are the types of conversations that must be had.

“Are we going to be prepared to take that step? To take that step, we have to look at what our shape, our attack, our defence, our whole game plan looks like, without those guys that have been there for that amount of time over the last decade.

“Our success rate, and everyone is aware of this, it’s not good enough and so how do we change the picture? And how do we take a step forward.”