Rennie explains why All Blacks are ‘fortunate’ to have Beauden Barrett

Dave Rennie has explained how fortunate the All Blacks are to have someone like Beauden Barrett in the mix, with the now 147-Test veteran stepping up during the Bledisloe Cup series after injuries to other playmaking options.

Ruben Love emerged as the first-choice All Blacks first five-eighth after steering the Hurricanes to a drought-breaking Super Rugby Pacific title. Love started in all three Nations Championship fixtures and continued to hold that role during most of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

But with Love injured, Richie Mo’unga was brought into the run-on side for the fourth Springboks Test. Mo’unga was set to suit up against the Wallabies too, but a calf injury sidelined the No. 10 for the Auckland and Sydney Tests.

Barrett had logged ess than 10 minutes of international rugby ahead of the Bledisloe Cup Tests, having come off the bench against the Boks in Baltimore. But the 2015 Rugby World Cup winner started at fullback last weekend, and was retained in that role for the second fixture.

The 35-year-old scored a first-half double against the Wallabies, as the All Blacks piled on the points during a clinical first half. Barrett and first five-eighth Damian McKenzie both played the full 80, as the All Blacks secured a series sweep with a 43-21 at Accor Stadium.

“That just highlights how fortunate we are. We’ve got a couple of 10s out and we’re playing Damian and able to play Beauden out the back,” Rennie told reporters.

“His experience, his communication, quality of his decision-making is just excellent. You saw him under pressure last week and managed to step out of three tackles.

“Picking off that try was reasonably important. If they score there it’s 29-14. We feel like we’ve had total dominance in the half but they’re in it.

“It’s great having him in the mix.”

Rieko Ioane is another All Blacks veteran who seized the opportunity to play decent minutes in the two victories over the Wallabies. Ioane came off the bench against the fourth Springboks clash, before featuring in both Bledisloe Cup showdowns.

Ioane was named on the bench ahead of the Sydney Test, but was subbed on early with Quinn Tupaea coming off. The 29-year-old raced away for a first-half try just inside the left sideline – which was quite similar a five-pointer he scored two years ago at the same venue.

“Reeks was very good. Had to do a lot of defending today,” Rennie said.

“He barely trained at centre. He was our main cover but really pleased with him.”

Barrett and Ioane both made their mark as the All Blacks took a relentless 36-7 lead into half-time. Josh Moorby, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi also got on the scoresheet, as the visitors produced an attacking masterclass.

The Wallabies, who scored one try in the opening 40 through second-rower Jeremy Williams, did outscore the All Blacks 14-7 in the second term. Moorby completed his first All Blacks double at Test level, before Tom Wright and Filipo Daugunu crossed for the home side.

“A lot of the stuff that we did well last week, we’re able to put 40 minutes of that together. The quality of the carry, winning races and brutality around cleanout, and then a lot of the quality of the decision-making; the pass selection to put people in space,” he reflected.

“When we’re able to hang on to the ball, we can play quick. I thought we were really clinical [in the] first 43 [minutes].”