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International

There are only so many former glories that All Blacks selectors can cling to

Hamish Bidwell

Published: 17 June 2026 20:39 PDT

Beauden Barrett started 10 of New Zealand's 13 Tests l;ast year at No 10, but has not hit top form for Blues in Super Rugby (Photo Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

I think we’d all agree that Beauden Barrett will be in the first All Blacks test squad of the season. Just as, we’d also have to admit he probably has no business being in the team anymore.

It’s weird when you think about it.

The justifications for continuing to pick Barrett are obvious: talent, experience, leadership. The guy has been a fixture in the squad since 2012 and often justifiably so.

At various times, Barrett has been the best and most influential player in the world, wowing all and sundry with his audacity and skill.

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Back in the days when I worked in daily journalism, I’d turn up to games early just to watch Barrett warm up. He was just such a great athlete, with the ball on a string, and invariably the first player out of the dressing room.

While others applied bits of tape or checked their hair in the mirror, Barrett would be chipping and regathering the ball from one end of the field to the other.

Only it’s been a long time since I set foot in a pressbox and almost as long since Barrett was the best first five-eighth in the world.

Time was when All Blacks of significance didn’t get to retire on their terms. There were no swansongs, no final cracks at the Rugby World Cup title.

You were picked for as long as you were the best player in your position, and then dumped once you were not.

Ask Wayne Shelford how that felt, or John Kirwan.

Now’s the time to be getting as much Test rugby into Ruben Love at 10 as possible.

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Barrett has had his go, Damian McKenzie too. They’ve been brilliant and popular players, but have also presided over an era of comparative All Black decline.

For all their flair and the quality of their individual highlight reels, test teams have tamed them. There’s no disgrace in that.

But this idea that we keep picking them and picking them – and crossing our fingers that this time it’ll work – is insanity. A different coach, tweaks in the supporting cast, none have altered the fact that Barrett and McKenzie have been found wanting when New Zealand really needed them.

Under Scott Robertson, the remedy appeared to be Richie Mo’unga. Never mind the fact that he’s never commanded the Test stage; the thinking was that he suddenly could, despite years of semi-retirement in Japan.

Yet we all expect Barrett and McKenzie to be among the 34-players announced in the All Blacks’ squad on Monday, with Mo’unga to join the fray at the earliest possible opportunity.

I love that Dave Rennie is now the All Blacks coach and I’m full of praise for the support staff he’s assembled around him. I believe Rennie’s All Blacks will be the best prepared since Wayne Smith was still around.

And, because we’re optimists by nature, we think that’ll suddenly change everything. That players such as Barrett and McKenzie, who’ve consistently underwhelmed when it counts, will return to being or magically become the world-beaters we’d all like them to be.

Look, McKenzie is a sensational Super Rugby player, and I’d expect him to lead the Chiefs to victory over the Hurricanes in Saturday’s final. It’s just that his dominance at that level has never extended to the Test arena.

Barrett, meanwhile, has done next to nothing for the Blues this season, or in Super Rugby in general for years now. He’s either on sabbatical in Japan or, if he is here, seemingly disinterested in the competition he’s playing in.

There are only so many former glories that selectors can cling to.

We don’t yet know if Love’s any good, and that’s kind of the problem while Barrett and McKenzie are around. The safer option is always to shield the new kid from elite opposition and rely on the tried and tested instead.

The All Blacks deal in excellence, or at least they used to. World Cup wins represent success, near misses failure.

We’ve tried Barrett and McKenzie for so long now it isn’t funny. They’ve been tried all right; it’s just that, unfortunately – by the standards we used to hold All Black teams to – they’ve failed.

But, hey, let’s roll them out for another test campaign and see if it works this time.

Comments

71 Comments

SC 44 days ago

Looshead: DeGroot, Numia, Norris

Hooker: Taukeo’aho, Aumua, Taylor

Tighthead: Newell, Tosi, Lomax

Locks: Vaa’i, Lord, Tuipulotu, Darry

Loose Forwards: Sititi, Savea, Lakai, Parker, Segner, Lio-Willie

Halfbacks: Roigard, Hotham, Preston

Fly Half: Love, Mckenzie

Midfield: J. Barrett, Tupaea, Tavatavanawai, Proctor

Wings: Clarke, Fineanganofo, Carter, JRK

Fullbacks: Jordan, Harkin

cnw 44 days ago

This is a good squad SC. Bring it on. I see Rieko scored a try - perhaps he is worth having in the squad given his recent exposure to top NH players especially the Irish and French

JW 44 days ago

Include JRK as a winger? Mad, I like it.

JW 45 days ago

My 34

Looseheads

Ethan de Groot

Ollie Norris

Xavier Numia

Hookers

Asafo Aumua

Samisoni Taukei'aho

Tyron Thompson

Tighthead

Tyrel Lomax/George Bower

Fletcher Newell

Pasilio Tosi

Tyrel didn’t look outa shape or anything on the weekend, unsure of his cause of injury, might be good to go near 100. Otherwise I’d be tempted to give Bower more TH practice.

Locks

Tupou Vaa'i

Sam Darry

Patrick Tuipulotu

Josh Lord

Loose Forwards

Samipeni Finau

Luke Jacobson

Du'Plessis Kirifi

Peter Lakai

Lucas Casey

Wallace Sititi

Halfbacks

Cortez Ratima

Cam Roigard

Kyle Preston

First Fives

Ruben Love

Damian McKenzie

Rivez Reihana

Midfield

Jordie Barrett

Anton Lienert-Brown

Billy Proctor

Quinn Tupaea

Rieko Ioane

Outside Backs

Caleb Clarke

Fehi Fineanganofo

Callum Harkin

Leroy Carter

Can swap Casey for Barnes or Parker as you really don’t want to be using the others at 6, but Casey is more deserving of all new caps. Same with Hutchinson or another fullback over Reihana if Jordie doesn’t want to play 15 and Harkin might be a bit raw for a starting option.

cnw 44 days ago

Nice JW. No Taylor? And Ardie for Jacobson? No TT or Havili instead of ALB? And Kemera over Rivers for me. Though I might go for another lock / loosie instead if extra 10

B 45 days ago

Beaudens form has taken a downward spirall after the EOYT Nov. 2025, and he still hasn't recovered from it in terms of having a lack lustre SR season…

This slump began after an early dong v Ireland (head contact), leg injury v Scotland (solid tackle), and was then strapped up to play England where his general play and tactical kicking was lacking in every department…

With Will Jordan's leg injury, Beaudens international experience may be his only saving grace, but I don't see him featuring in the Mens 2025 RWC…

We’ll all be enlightened on a Monday afternoon, June 22…

Go the ‘Canes…

Go the All Blacks…

JW 45 days ago

I think we’d all agree that Beauden Barrett will be in the first All Blacks test squad of the season.

I wouldn’t include a bunch of old players, Beauden, Cody, Tyrel, Scooter, Ofa, Jordan, Ardie, possibly even Rieko if he’s tired (though I doubt he would be) etc. Let them work on their fitness.

BH 45 days ago

DMac has saved NZ’s bacon on a couple of occasions. Ireland 2024, England 2024, Scotland 2025. He isn’t worth discarding at all, especially given his form since returning in the past couple of weeks.

Beauden however is cooked like a roast on any given sunday.

GM 45 days ago

‘seemingly disinterested’??? Are you trying to say he’s uninterested, Hamish, or are you trying to say he’s impartial?

Too tough on DMac - think back to the Ireland game at Aviva. Brilliant game management, then dropped for BB next game against France. Pity Richie isn’t available straight away and then Rennie could thank BB and leave him out - I don’t think it’s going to help to have his voice in the environment - that may prevent his brother and Ruben and Cam from fully expressing themselves.

J T 45 days ago

All this emphasis that BB provides leadership and experience; I actually think his legacy and authority stand in the way of the AB’s moving forward. Time for new perspectives and to move on from the old guard mentality. Besides there is plenty of leadership to be found in those AB’s currently performing…

JW 44 days ago

Yes, same with his brothers ‘game management’. It’s not an advantage when the team can’t make use of it because they are soft in the midfield with him there.

Blackmania 45 days ago

Beauden Barrett will probably be in the squad, even though, from a sporting perspective, he no longer deserves to be there. That’s pretty terrible, really…

The All Blacks have become trapped in a system where the player gets to decide when he leaves, but the coach doesn’t get to decide when to stop selecting him.

I hope Rennie will be brave and won’t pick Beauden Barrett for the first matches of the year. Doing so would already send the wrong message…

On the other hand, the comparison with DMac is flawed. The Chiefs playmaker has never been given the same opportunities as Beauden Barrett. The coaches have never really trusted him to take charge of the team. And when he did step up—helping save the All Blacks on several occasions against England, Ireland and Scotland—he wasn’t rewarded for it, with Razor consistently preferring Beauden Barrett instead. To me, that remains completely baffling.

DMac was dropped after the two matches against the Springboks in 2024, even though he hadn’t played badly and the All Blacks had only narrowly lost on South African soil.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing what Rennie says if he selects BB, especially after stating that form would be taken into account. You can’t really say that BB ticks that box.

But my prediction is that he won’t be selected. Henry will have pushed the button and convinced Rennie not to do it. At least, I hope so.

Tk 45 days ago

Dave Rennie has made three statements.

A. He will pick players in form.

B. He will pick players who he feels will play his brand of rugby.

C. He has no loyalty to those previously capped.

All great words but I think we all now expect him to follow through. If he does, can BB really be picked in the that 34 man squad. For me, no. No form. No recent track record of success. Kicks away all the possession that Rennie will want to counter attack with. I'm expecting a new broom.

JW 44 days ago

A. He will pick players in form

As an excuse for picking the same tired old players again, “no, I said I wasn’t doing that”.

For me, no. No form.

You’re forgetting what he does do, and b) that just because he’s not doing what you want doesn’t mean he hasn’t still done what every other coach has wanted before Rennie.

I’d readjust your expactations!

johnz 45 days ago

I suspect BB will be there simply because nobody else has claimed the 3rd spot for pivot. When Mo’unga is back though (actually he is back but being paid to wait for NPC) - it will be nervous times for Barrett.

Interestingly, I hear he has an out clause if he misses AB selection. I’d guess he’s NZs highest paid player or there abouts, so an out clause is good for both sides and probably should be included in all senior player contracts.

I’ve often wondered about the 4 year contracts with senior players. NZR fork out a big chunk of their budget to retain these guys, but if form doesn’t match the salary overhead, they have a problem.

cnw 45 days ago

Agree. Really is time for Love / Jordie combination to be tried at test level. Together they tick all boxes. DMac annd Tupaea combination good too. So no room for BB at 10. And even at 15, BB would try to run things.

Bazzallina 45 days ago

Grooter Numia Norris

Aumua Samisoni Codie

Newell Lomax Tosi

Tupou V Lord Paddy T Hannah

Ardie Lakai Wallace Segner Parker Finau

Cam Cortez Noah

Dmac Reuben

Jordie QT Proctor Leicester

Caleb Fihaki Carter Fehi ( if he ain’t around Hutchinson)

Jordan Harkin

Probably hella wrong know many will hate on Finau but jeez he can win collisions actually would drop Parker first if say Luke J or a Kirifi in there also think Reiko still has value would much prefer him over ALB but him being with Rennie in Japan does say something

JW 44 days ago

Theres no such thing as ‘wrong’, theres what Rennie should pack and what he will pick.

Not wanting to pick Beauden doesn’t make you wrong.

That said some of your picks make you wrong. You can also drop a lot of guys. I like like the idea of bring in the +10 that are going into Africa, NOW!

cnw 45 days ago

Nice squad - but prefer Darry (for Hannah), Naholo (Fihaki) Morby (Harkin) and perhaps a bolter like Casey or Howden for Finau, with Vaa’i covering 6 too.

Hope Sititi and Jordan ok for July, but if not 100 - rest them so ready for SA. If so Casey and Morby definitely in.

Bazzallina 45 days ago

In interview Beaudie gave earlier in year I think on DSPN he spoke about his goal to be in ABs and at next WC basically acknowledging that Father Time is not on his side but that he was going to give it his best still be part of it and that his value as even just a guy in the squad he thought that he could add value and I don’t doubt that but I am becoming increasingly unsure as to whether he will be now especially in the 34 to start year with imo 2 10s Reuben and Dmac is enough and say if on a Friday one goes down Jordie could cover if needed on match day bringing another guy into the environment could have more importance than getting Beaudie back in…probs wrong but the form has been meh whereas a dude like Harkin keeps on doing really good things week in week out

JW 44 days ago

And basically insinuated that if he wasn’t part of the squad or attempt to win the WC he’d hang up the boots. That’s just how close he is at the end, that he’s even in the discussion is a credit to him (though a discredit to his coaches!).

SB 45 days ago

The thing is, when the union contracts big name players such as him it’s hard to drop him. Also last year he was still the 10 in important wins so I find the narrative that he is completely finished not quite true.

I don’t expect him to start but in a 34 man squad he definitely has his value in my opinion.

cnw 45 days ago

Your prediction is probably accurate SB. Many of us have just become frustrated with BB at both SR and AB levels. His backlines have been so clunky and failed to fire repeatedly. And ABs need to blood someone new and BB is a block on that.

johnz 46 days ago

I haven’t always been a fan of DMac at test level, but that’s mainly as a fullback. The unfortunate truth for the couragous little guy, is he’s just too small at international level.

He is a very decent 10, however. His game last week was a masterclass, and I think he was discarded too early by Razor and co, just as he was finding his feet at pivot.

To say he’s finished is a bit strong I suggest.

I agree Barrett is done, and absolutely Love needs to be invested in big time. But DMac still has a role to play and looks the more self assured of the two right now.

I worry about Love’s composure under pressure - his talent is undeniable. This weeks final will be a great reveal on that front, and a season under Enoka and Rennie should do him wonders.

It’s a bit out of context to say RM never commanded at test level. We can’t forget many of his appearances were during Foster’s failed dual playmaker system, where the game plan was something along the lines of: Barrett is struggling against rush defence, let’s rejig the backline to suit Barrett better.

RM was never fully entrusted with the keys to drive the car. At the WC he was good - he probably left just when he was establishing himself as the game driver. Otherwise he was always in that man Barrett’s large shadow.

johnz 43 days ago

I take everything I said about DMac back - apart from the size issue, which I now double down on. DMac just played himself out of a starting role (it’s half time as I write), an absolute meltdown. I know it’s windy, but the inability to adjust to the situation, pressure etc is a major red flag. He’s put his team under all manner of pressure.

Meanwhile the axis of Roigard, Love and Barrett is impressive. There’s a Carter-esque running style about Love, he keeps defenders guessing. But he needs the other two mentioned, who do much of the decision making. Those three must start the first AB test. In the end the decision was easy.

JW 45 days ago

Spot I think johnz. Have a listen to what Richie said about himself late 2022 early 2023, as he was more than just a WC wonder.

Dmac has just not been led well, at either Chiefs or ABs. His Chiefs environment might finally be giving him what he needs (as Richie’s didn’t give him in his career, causing him to have similar problems at International level) but he still has the mental block about his size (caught against the Reds once or twice). When he’s at 15 he’s fully committed to his carriers (and often can get up a head of steam first ofc), because he knows that’s a core role he needs to fulfil, but even at SR level when playing 10 he almost shies away from doing the same, often looking for his support and making it worse by going around in circles, and then ends up dying even easier with the ball than he does at 15. This is still a big problem that is covered up when his teammates are able to do their jobs properly.

Otherwise his upsides more than make up for this deficiencies, it’s more around which coach outplays the other in making the most of strengths or weaknesses. That’s just a problem Love and some of the other young 10s don’t cause for the gameplan/coach, but if theyr’e good enough they can make it work imo.

Andrew Nichols 45 days ago

Are we still going on about his size? Snall? Weird. Some facts. 81kg 1.77. DMac

84 kg 1.78 Aaron Cruden

85 kg 1.76 RichieMounga

89 kg 1.78m Andrew Mehrtens

Can we finally put this to bed now?

jh 46 days ago

Richie has never set the world on fire as an AB , DMac has never been allowed to play his style of rugby in the ABs, he has rescued the ABs, remember Scotland, Maybe Rennie will allow him to play his natural way

GP 46 days ago

Dave Rennie wants Richie Mo’unga back in the fold, just like Scott Robertson did. He was picked in the tournament team at the end of the 2023 World Cup. Richie’s play for the Crusaders in the 7 title run 2017-23, was often worth the price of admission. He was mucked around with in the 2019-23 period at AB level.

GrahamVF 44 days ago

As a neutral and a lot of my mates think the same - it’s a huge mistake to make plans around one player like Richie. South Africa made that mistake banking on Pollard being the No1 10 at the WC. Then he gets injured can’t be selected and the entire campaign plan is turned on its head - they lose to Ireland and then lose the No1 hooker and in order to get Pollard into the team at all costs go into the rest of the competition with just one test quality hooker and a flank/hybrid backup. They get lucky and Pollard proves a better clutch kicker than either of the AB’s and they get a win. My point is if you base your plan on one player and that player gets injured it disrupts the entire thinking of the team - fortunately the Boks had Manie who was already a test quality No 10 as he proved again against France and Scotland but if you look back so many WC knock out games and cup finals have been won by the team that kicked best and Pollard at that sage was without equal in the clutch kicking department.

Over the sideline 46 days ago

Mounga? He was average at test level. Never ever cemented hs spot and always failed in the big moments.

HEs older than Dmac ffs. Dmac, under a DECENT COACH will succeed. Seems Jonno Gibbs can coach a game plan Razor failed at for 2 years.

For the 3 tests coming up I definately see BB in the squad. I’d hate to get to a gameday injury situation for either Love or Dmac and only have Jacomb in the squad as a replacement but Jacomb HAS to get time in SA. If they could name Dmac as a 15 for this first squad then hav Jacomb for Italy

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