'Room for three': Ian Foster on the All Blacks' playmaker conundrum

Damian McKenzie has done nothing but play brilliantly in 2023, yet that hasn’t been enough for the 28-year-old to crack the All Blacks‘ matchday 23 over the final two rounds of The Rugby Championship.

After starting in Mendoza, where he steered New Zealand to a great victory over Los Pumas, McKenzie has been relegated to the sheds as Richie Mo’unga and Beaduen Barrett share the playmaking responsibilities.

Speculation has suggested that with two first five-eighths in the starting XV already, McKenzie’s skillset is simply superfluous to the team’s needs.

Barrett’s starting role at fullback does ensure the flyhalf position is covered should Mo’unga be sidelined for any reason, with Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett able to cover the fullback role if Beauden was to move up to first receiver.

That being said, Mo’unga was named on the bench for the Pumas Test and featured at the end of the match, replacing Beauden Barrett as Damian McKenzie dropped into fullback – where he continued to impress.

“There is room for (all) three,” Ian Foster said of his playmaker conundrum. “We’ve elected not to do that at the moment.

“It’s actually no reflection on Damian, to be honest. It’s the fact that it’s a chance for us to keep looking at some of the other options.

“We’re trying to nail each week as we go. We want to win the (Rugby) Championship, we want to make a statement about the Bledisloe [Cup].

“But at the same time, we also want to make sure we’re giving some players enough opportunities to show how they can contribute.

“That sees us go with a midfield-outside back type combo on the bench. It may not always be like that.”

Braydon Ennor and Anton Lienert-Brown have since shared the 22 jersey with Caleb Clarke occupying the 23 role.

Outside of the halves partnership of Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga, the entire All Blacks backline is made up of utility players, each with the ability to cover at least two positions.

Within that sea of versatility, the No 12 jersey is the only one that isn’t covered should a reshuffle be needed. That cements the need for midfield cover on the bench while Foster’s outside back selection in the 23 jersey remains somewhat curious.