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'He warrants that position': Ian Foster settles on his dual playmakers

By Tom Raine
Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo'unga. (Photo by Joe Allison/Photosport)

For the third time this year and ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies, All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has opted for the first five-eighth and fullback combination of Richie Mo’unga and Damian McKenzie.

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Beauden Barrett meanwhile, is set to make his 92nd All Blacks appearance from the bench.

Of course, much speculation emerged in 2021 as to how Barrett’s sabbatical in Japan might potentially affect his shot at a starting place in the All Blacks upon his return, particularly in the No 10 jersey. Richie Mo’unga’s outstanding form for the Crusaders throughout the course of this season, en route to a fifth Super Rugby title, is indicative of an ever-strengthening case for his selection ahead of Barrett.

Indeed Barrett, the World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, has since the start of 2020 made just two starts at first five for the All Blacks, with his other four starts coming at fullback.

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The All Blacks have made a handful of changes for the first Bledisloe Cup match of the year.

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The All Blacks have made a handful of changes for the first Bledisloe Cup match of the year.

Yet, here too the 30-year-old faces competition aplenty, with Will Jordan, Jordie Barrett and McKenzie all fulfilling the role superbly at Super Rugby level in 2021 for their respective franchises.

However from Foster’s viewpoint, the Mo’unga-McKenzie combination has displayed enough in its two outings in 2021 to warrant dropping Barrett for the first Bledisloe Cup test of the season, as he potentially looks to once more deploy a dual playmaker attacking shape.

McKenzie more than most is familiar with such a shape, having been utilised regularly as a second pivot for the Chiefs in 2021, sharing in the responsibilities of distribution and game management with his No. 10. Moreover objectively speaking the structure deployed by the Chiefs was a success, as McKenzie played a crucial role in guiding the Chiefs to the Super Rugby Aotearoa final.

Discussing his choices at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, however, Foster was keen to keep his focus to a game-by-game basis, stating that Mo’unga’s selection was not a representation of sweeping changes.

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“We just believe he’s right for this game,” remarked Ian Foster of Mo’unga.

Certainly, if Super Rugby Trans-Tasman is anything to go by, Foster may well have a point, with the electric feet of Mo’unga so often causing Australian defences all manner of problems in the competition.

On his starting fullback, Foster highlighted that his selection had been earned, with 30-test McKenzie impressing through the week.

“Damian’s playing well,” said Foster. “We’re just really happy with how he’s going. We’ve got good competition there [in that position] as well, but I think Damian’s decision making is strong, he’s feeling good about his game, running fast and so I think he warrants that position.”

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Foster will hope that the good form shown against Fiji and Tonga can continue in what will be a tough test against a Wallabies side buoyed by their recent series victory over France.

The All Blacks play Australia at Eden Park on Saturday 7 August (kick-off 7.05PM).

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A
Adrian 33 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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