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Beaudie v Richie

The race for No 10

Marc Hinton and Richard Knowler pitch in to help him out. MARC HINTON RICHARD KNOWLER

BEAUDEN BARRETT

Go with the flow. With the incumbent. With the bloke who delivered for you in Australia, and more than hinted that he’s shifting right back into the topend form that saw him dominate the world game as the best No 10 on the planet.

That’s my read on Foster’s selection dilemma this week as he weighs his choice at No 10 to face Wales. It’s a conundrum with no wrong answer – both classy practitioners of their craft can deliver, it’s a matter of what order you want to roll them out.

Of course the starting job is the premo one, carrying the most responsibility and the lion’s share of the minutes. And Barrett deserves that crack this week – for two simple reasons.

Firstly he’s the form horse, having mixed some sublime creative and attacking play through the Rugby Championship with one or two scratchy moments that were to be expected from a fellow fresh off a season plying his trade in Japan.

Barrett is electrifying when he’s at his best, with that ability to almost glide through gaps in the defence, and his distribution, kicking out of hand, tactical acumen and ability to seize the moment appeared to be building nicely in Australia.

He’s due this opportunity. He shifted to fullback in 2019 to accommodate Mo’unga’s inexorable rise in the starting XV, and earlier this year dropped to the backup spot without grumble.

But he’s now got runs on the board, some momentum, and no doubt his confidence is back up where it needs to be. It is time to have a look at the one-two punch back in the old order. For those worried about Barrett’s shaky goalkicking, it is not an issue while his younger brother has things covered from fullback.

And don’t for a minute think the milestone won’t be factored in. Barrett has been a brilliant and enduring servant for New Zealand rugby. He deserves to mark his 100th test with that No 10 jersey on his back.

The balance may tilt again after this week, but for now it’s Beaudy’s time to shine in the spotlight.

RICHIE MO’UNGA

Let’s rewind to Eden Park, Auckland, on August 14.

Enjoy the memories. Richie Mo’unga was at first five-eighth that day as the All Blacks humiliated the Wallabies 57-22 to ensure an enormous lump of treasure, the Bledisloe Cup, remained in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Happy times. Mo’unga, who kicked five conversions before being replaced by Beauden Barrett in the 64th minute, looked sharp, confident and assertive.

It was a while before we saw him again. He put family first, staying in New Zealand to support his wife ahead of the birth of their second child, while the All Blacks travelled to Australia for the remaining Rugby Championship fixtures.

Mo’unga’s only appearance across the Tasman, once he had completed quarantine, was as a substitute late in the 31-29 loss to the Springboks on the Gold Coast on October 2.

You can only wonder how much better the All Blacks could have been if a battle-hardened

Mo’unga had started. The All Blacks schemed all week about how to deal with the Boks’ kicking game, but were sluggish to react when they unexpectedly ran the ball.

Last weekend’s game against the United States in Washington DC was Mo’unga’s first start at No 10 in more than two months.

He needs more minutes. Why not against Wales in Cardiff?

There are emotional strings attached to the debate about whether Mo’unga or Barrett should be in the run-on side. Barrett is poised to win his 100th test cap. He can pop that cherry at Principality Stadium, his fans say.

But, hang on, let’s play the long game with this.

Mo’unga could do with another run after that 104-14 trouncing of the US at FedEx Field. This isn’t just about getting him in the saddle, again.

It’s about what he can do once he’s hooked his feet in the stirrups. Mo’unga has the zest, the willingness to create, the vision to use his speed to jump and jerk t hrough gaps.

His awareness, combined with his fast-feet, would be invaluable – especially with Crusaders team-mate Sam Whitelock as the captain.

These are two men who know how each thinks. Mo’unga can calmly call the plays, probably with another Crusaders teammate in David Havili on his outside shoulder, while Whitelock shovels coal into the furnace.

The perfect combination? Quite possibly.

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2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

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