Mike Blair explains Beauden Barrett’s influence amid Love’s All Blacks rise

All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair insists that while Beauden Barrett is still very much in the frame for selection, Ruben Love has stepped up as the team’s game-driver after a “brilliant” Super Rugby Pacific season with the Hurricanes.

Love has won the starting job in the All Blacks’ first two Tests of the year, which followed a Player of the Final performance in the SRP decider. The first five-eighth finished with a 12-point haul and played the full 80 in a 47-17 triumph over the Italians in Wellington.

Damian McKenzie has provided playmaker cover as the starting fullback, with Barrett missing out on selection for both matches. The 145-Test veteran has never missed out on all three July matches in non-Rugby World Cup years, now at risk of entering uncharted territory.

Barrett’s non-selection in the side to face France two weeks ago also brought an end to a decade-long streak of suiting up in the first team of the year. But the 2015 World Cup winner continues to work hard, having been one of the last All Blacks to walk off the field after Tuesday’s training.

“When you watch him train, that’s not a surprise. Some of short-game touches, his vision, his composure, you can see exactly why he’s got those caps,” Blair told reporters.

“It’s been a difficult period for him, for sure, seeing Ruben come in but I think he’ll understand that as well. Ruben is a young 10 coming through, it’s important to give him a couple of games to steady his feet, to allow him to learn.

“But Beauden’s still very much in the picture.”

Barrett helped lead the Blues to the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals last season, playing the full 80 as the starting fullback in a defeat to the Hurricanes. The Canes secured a drought-breaking title the next weekend, with Love delivering a standout performance.

Love was rewarded for a particularly impressive campaign with first crack at the No. 10 jersey for the All Blacks, but disaster struck almost immediately. The 25-year-old was shown a yellow card a couple of minutes into the clash with Les Bleus in Christchurch.

But the first five-eighth bounced back with a solid performance against the French and another composed performance against Italy. Love has started both Tests alongside Canes halves partner Cam Roigard, while McKenzie and Cortez Ratima cover those positions.

“Been really pleased with Ruben. It’s difficult coming in as a 10 and leading the team as a young player but he’s done that on the back of a brilliant season with Hurricanes and leading the group there,” Blair said.

“He hasn’t skipped a beat all week. The campaign he’s been a really impressive young man and I think what he’s shown on the pitch has been impressive as well.”

The All Blacks are 2-0 in the all-new Nations Championship but still sit in second place behind arch-rivals the Springboks, who are ahead on points differential. It’s a big week for the New Zealanders, who will again put their remarkable winning streak at Eden Park on the line.

Ireland are back on New Zealand soil for the first time in four years, when they claimed a historic 2-1 series win. But the All Blacks are 52 games unbeaten at the Garden, setting the stage for what looms as a heavyweight bout between two form sides.