Mike Blair on why McKenzie-Barrett combination is becoming vital to All Blacks attack

All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair is confident his backline is starting to click after two impressive performances against the Wallabies, as they kickstart their November Nations Championship window this weekend against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Blair’s charges caught fire in the first half at Sydney’s Accor Stadium in the second Bledisloe Cup Test, scoring six tries in the opening 40 minutes, helped by the improving combination of experienced playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.

The 10-15 duo have represented the All Blacks together for several years and have formed a strong combination in recent weeks after first fives Ruben Love and Richie Mo’unga picked up injuries.

McKenzie started all seven Tests of Dave Rennie’s tenure as All Blacks coach in the No.15 jumper, but answered the call at No.10 for the two Bledisloe Cup Tests, delivering emphatically.

Barrett, unlike McKenzie, has struggled to cement a starting spot over the past couple of years, but having taken his opportunity against Australia, the All Blacks seem set to continue with his 147-Test experience at fullback.

Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, Blair made it clear that the first-five and fullback positions are interchangeable, highlighted by what Barrett and McKenzie have produced in recent Tests.

“Yeah, so our selections, probably since July, have shown the 10 and 15 are players who are able to play-make, and I think Damian and Beauden have done that really well,” the All Blacks assistant said in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Blair believes that the duo’s connection on the field is helping the All Blacks attack flourish.

“They’ve played a lot of Test matches together. Been in a lot of squads together, and their ability to switch in and out of a first receiver and play-make from different areas is really key to our attack.”

Ahead of Saturday’s clash against the team he made 84 Test appearances for, Blair said they are keen to continue evolving their counter-attacking game plan, even if conditions require a more game management focus.

“Yeah, we’ve had a little look at the forecast. It looks like there’s a small chance of rain. I think both Scotland and New Zealand would like a dry ball.

“But the way we’re trying to evolve our game, there’s obviously game management within it, using our kick and game to create pressure and unstructured defences, but we also believe we’ve got a skill set that can manipulate defence with the ball in hand, even if the weather’s not great.”

Over the 120 years these two teams have faced each other, Scotland have gone agonisingly close to a famous victory, but remain without one in 33 times of asking.

Blair admitted the All Blacks have discussed the record this week, saying the long-standing unbeaten streak will be “huge motivation” come Saturday afternoon in Edinburgh.

“It’s really important,” Blair said.

“We’ve got a couple of long-standing records. The Eden Park record [unbeaten since 1994], every time we play there, there’s an extra edge to it because you don’t want to be the team that loses that record. It’s definitely a huge motivation.

“We’re really proud of that record [against Scotland]. We know over the last four matches it’s been close, so it’s going to be a tough contest for sure.”