'What a pickle': All Blacks duo weigh in on Beauden Barrett vs Richie Mo'unga debate
Ask any New Zealand rugby fan who should start at first-five for the All Blacks, and the answer will be one of two players.
Some will say star Blues recruit Beauden Barrett needs to be reinstated in the national No. 10 jersey after helping guide the Aucklanders to their best campaign in nearly a decade in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Other will argue Crusaders playmaker Richie Mo’unga deserves to maintain his place in the starting lineup following a compelling 10-week showing in the Kiwi domestic league that saw his side clinch their fourth consecutive title.
It’s a predicament that has divided a nation and likely won’t be solved until All Blacks head coach Ian Foster names his first team of the year over the coming months.
That hasn’t stopped All Blacks duo James Parsons and Brad Weber from weighing in on the debate in their most recent appearance on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
Veteran Blues hooker Parsons, who played two tests for the All Blacks in 2014 and 2016, believes his Super Rugby teammate Barrett is the best option for Foster’s team due to his extensive skill set.
“I don’t think we can look past how good Beaudy looked at 10 when he moved there,” the 33-year-old said, referencing Barrett’s shift from fullback to first-five midway through Super Rugby Aotearoa.
“Richie – don’t get me wrong, I’ve raved about him, I think he’s great and he’s definitely the form 10 – but with the three games Beaudy had at 10, he changed our attack massively.”
Parsons noted Barrett’s performance against the Highlanders in Dunedin three weeks ago as an example of how good the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year can be.
“Just his ability to be flat at the line and hold defenders, his ability to kick and pass,” Parsons said.
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“To stop that cross-field kick and then give that bullet pass to [Tony] Lamborn against the Highlanders, that takes a hell of a lot of skills.
“It’s a tough decision and one that’s just not going to get answered because you could start either of them.”
Although he admitted to having a bias towards Barrett, Parsons recognised Mo’unga’s sensational form was probably enough to earn him earn selection at first-five for the All Blacks.
“Richie’s probably got the inside running because he’s played seven games, and even before Super, because Beaudy had that sabbatical, he’s been the form one all year,” Parsons said.
“He just has that ability to cut teams open regularly, and he’s also a pretty sharp shooter with the boot, so it’s a tough one.
“I’m going to be biased. I would probably pick Beaudy but that’s just because he’s in my team and that’s just the natural way it is, but I appreciate what Richie’s got about his game.”
Chiefs halfback Weber, who attended last year’s World Cup in Japan, was similarly impressed with Mo’unga, highlighting his performance during the Crusaders’ 26-15 win over the Blues in Christchurch last month as an example of his talent.
But, while most would agree that picking Mo’unga at first-five would force Barrett to fullback, Weber added that tactical move could present issues of its own given New Zealand’s positional depth across the board.
“The stuff against you boys down in Christchurch, Jip [Parsons], that stuff was just… it’s freakish,” Weber said of Mo’unga.
“Beaudy’s got so many years, though, of just quality first-five work for the All Blacks, so it’s going to take a fair bit to take that off Beaudy as well.
“But also at 15 as well, the stocks there, because if you play Richie at 10 and then have Beaudy at fullback… Jordie’s [Barrett] playing so good, we’ve got Damian McKenzie who’s clearly class and we’ve already mentioned Will Jordan as well, so, man, what a pickle.”
A raft of seasoned All Blacks will join forces with promising uncapped youngsters to do battle in next week's #NorthvSouth clash.https://t.co/sEtxwHKqEl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 18, 2020
Fans and pundits alike will get the chance to see Barrett and Mo’unga go head-to-head in the No. 10 jerseys next Saturday after the pair were named as first-fives in the North and South squads on Tuesday.
Barrett is the sole first-five in the North team, although McKenzie and Highlanders pivot Mitch Hunt can provide cover there, while Mo’unga is joined by one-test All Blacks playmaker Josh Ioane in the South side.
The match is currently scheduled to take place at Auckland’s Eden Park, but a rise in Covid-19 cases has seen the city go into level three lockdown until August 26, three days before the fixture is set to take place.
New Zealand Rugby has since revealed Wellington as the back-up option to host the inter-island clash, and players will subsequently assemble in the Kiwi capital in preparation for the match on Monday.
Foster will then name his 35-man All Blacks squad on Sunday, the day after the match is played.
Listen to the full episode of Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
And the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to commentsWho the heck is Billy Fulton?
13 Go to commentsCale has all the potential no doubt. So has Harry Wilson except for his dumb arse coach over the last few years who told him just to run at brick walls all the time. Valentini would be devastating at 6. As he was until some idiot thought oh yeah, move our best player to another position. Not mentioning any flightless or thank you names of course. I very much dislike claiming one player is the saviour, because injuries are so prevalent in the game these days as the players are bigger and faster, so the discussion should be who are at least the best two players in one position. For me it’s Harry Wilson and Cale at 8 at the moment with Valentini or Hooper from the Brumbies at 6. Great options. Seru Uru should be in the reserves too. A game changer.
21 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a card waiting to happen, Cane has been out with injury as well as playing in Japan, I think they’ll go with in-Japan-but-still-the-man Savea. Samisoni Taukeaho will be Captain after 2027, so he might get some Captain minutes against an Italy or Japan.
13 Go to comments