McKenzie's challenge a welcomed reignition of the All Black No 10 debate

The All Black first five debate has yet again reared it’s head eight months after Richie Mo’unga seemingly settled the dust on Ian Foster’s predicament in a dynamic and accurate performance against South Africa.

This time, it’s been the form of Damian McKenzie that has sparked chatter, with the Chiefs off to a six-from-six start in Super Rugby Pacific, a run spearheaded by the return of their inspirational No 10 from Japan.

Those six wins include victories over both the Crusaders and Blues, games where McKenzie comfortably outplayed his opposing No 10s in Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett.

Barrett’s poor performance in particular has called the All Blacks‘ pecking order into question, and despite being the most experienced campaigner for the job, Barrett’s form has failed to fire since last year’s Super Rugby Pacific season.

The Aotearoa Rugby Pod panel discussed what it would take for McKenzie to surpass Barrett or Mo’unga as Foster’s favourite.

“I think that’s pretty tough,” Former Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall said. “I think they’re pretty loyal, having the two tens.

“Damian’s come back, I think he’s the form ten and probably shown the best consistency with the Chiefs and he’s probably one of the reasons why they’ve gone undefeated.

“But look, we’ve got two quality tens that probably aren’t where they want to be, but it’s a long competition, you’ve got to look at it around longevity and what it’s going to look like in the finals and that’s when we want them peaking.”

The potential makeup of the All Blacks matchday 23 in the World Cup was then debated with Hall claiming McKenzie also needed to prove his ability at fullback in order to push Barrett for a place in the squad.

“It all depends on what they do with Beaduen as well, do they want to play him as an out-and-out ten or have him in that fullback role? Because if he’s fullback then there’s probably no need to have him and Damian in that 10/15 cover.”

Regardless of who ends up in the squad, the 2011 World Cup was evidence of the potential importance of having a quality third option at first five.

Expanding on Hall’s comments, former Blues captain James Parsons expressed excitement at the challenge that McKenzie poses to both Barrett and Mo’unga, knowing it should bring the best out of the two, as healthy competition has in previous World Cups.

“The one thing I love about big-time players like Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett, and I suppose if we use (Dan) Carter and (Richie) McCaw leading into the 2015 World Cup, is when the pressure is one these individuals, they front up. They will nine times out of ten bring their very, very best out of themselves. So I’m excited to see that transition, into their World Class (best) because they won’t be going away without a fight.”

“114 Tests, I think (Barrett)’s going to have to do a lot more wrong to play himself out of the World Cup squad.”