Beauden Barrett All Blacks playmaker selection debate, Digi Mart USA News: Former All Blacks back three star Jeff Wilson believes Beauden Barrett’s form, rather than Damian McKenzie’s, will cause more selection headaches for coach Dave Rennie. The 35-year-old started the international campaign down the pecking order, but injuries to Ruben Love and Richie Mo’unga opened an opportunity for the Test centurion.
McKenzie shifted from full-back to take the place of Love and Mo’unga, producing two stellar displays in the 2-0 Bledisloe Cup triumph over the Wallabies. Barrett then came into the team at 15, and the two have dovetailed excellently since then, retaining their spots for the start of the Nations Championship against Scotland.
Will Jordan is another option at full-back, but Rennie appears to see the All Blacks’ record try-scorer as a winger. Wilson said Jordan playing full-back is probably one of the team’s last resorts.
“They clearly want to see the All Blacks’ leading try-scorer scoring tries on the wing,” Wilson told Sport Nation. “I think it gives us great versatility if something was to happen in-game; that’s where it’s so important.”
Wilson also addressed McKenzie, who has stepped into Love’s and Mo’unga’s shoes superbly and may be making fly-half his long-term position. He was Rennie’s first choice at 15 before the Bledisloe Cup, however, and Wilson suggested McKenzie’s role will depend on whether Barrett maintains his high standards.
“If he continues this great form at 10, how does that impact Beauden Barrett?” he said.
Wilson noted that Mo’unga will not be available this week as he targets Wales. “As much as he was great against Australia, and he was, this is a different challenge, this is a different type of game the northern hemisphere presents,” he said.
“If he continues his good form, I think it will be him who might give the selectors headaches, because their preferred option was clearly McKenzie at 15 – that was the guy they wanted at 15.”
Barrett’s Rugby World Cup ambitions looked in doubt not long ago, with Love, Mo’unga and McKenzie forming an enticing playmaking trio. He has now put two of them under severe pressure heading into 2027.
“If Beauden Barrett keeps playing well and McKenzie keeps playing well, that puts pressure on the return of Ruben Love next season and Richie Mo’unga,” Wilson added.
Wilson said Mo’unga would have to come over the top of Love, and now also over McKenzie. He described the coming couple of weeks around the 10 and 15 conversation as intriguing and noted that Josh Jacomb has not even been mentioned.
“Every game Beauden Barrett plays well, the conversation changes,” Wilson said. “We weren’t sure what impact he might still have in the All Blacks jersey because he wasn’t getting an opportunity.
What we saw, he still has a lot of things to offer.”
