Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Robertson on decision to bench McKenzie and start Beauden Barrett

Beauden Barrett (L) and Damian McKenzie look on during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at NZCIS on September 24, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has explained the decision to change his first five-eighth for the second Bledisloe Test in Wellington.

ADVERTISEMENT

Damian McKenzie has worn the No 10 jersey for the All Blacks in every Test in 2024, but now Beauden Barrett wear the jersey for the first time since 2022.

Robertson said that McKenzie has had a “great season” and the reason for the benching was pre-planned, but McKenzie will still have a role play to help the All Blacks finish strong, which has been an issue this year.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“He’s had a great season,” Robertson said of McKenzie. 

“There are areas of this game he can get better, but come on and be D-Mac. You know he can play. He’s created a lot for us, one of the highest line breakers in the comp. He can wave a wand and take a gap.

“Also, to come on and then manage what we need to do to finish the match.”

Barrett last played No 10 for the All Blacks in mid-2022, before Foster and his new assistants promoted Richie Mo’unga into the role and moved the two-time World Player of the Year to fullback.

ADVERTISEMENT

He will resume his partnership with long-time Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara for his last game in New Zealand for the All Blacks.

The pair played most of their careers together in the capital, guiding the Hurricanes to a maiden Super Rugby title in 2016.

“We’re always planning to give Beauden a go,” Robertson said, “You have to.”

“He’s [McKenzie] started every game till now, he’s shown some great form, and we’ve got to give guys opportunities and build depth in our team.

“And it’s nice chance for Beauden to play outside TJ, they’ve got a combination, they have had a lot of games together, and they played a lot of games together at the Cake Tin. So it lines up nicely.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s [Perenara] playing good footy. He’s been great when he’s come off the bench and when he’s started as well. You’ve got a great 9-10 combo.”

Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

4 Comments
B
B 57 days ago

Scottys' not taking any chances of losing in Wellington and fair enough, his focus is on 2-0 All Blacks vs Wallabies whitewash, while Joe Schmidt has been forced into making some changes.


The All Blacks have a starting lineup that boasts 917 Caps, while the Wallabies starting XV have only a total of 374 Caps, plus scrum weight and possibly technique advantage unless Jasons mentor Mike Cron has other plans. Boring in, like they did in last weekends game.


Anyways, all going well, the weather forecast is looking good for an open running game of rugby with on field official Nika Amashukeli in charge.


Go the All Blacks...the stats are heavily stacked in your favour...stay on the good side of Nika and don't be flippant and produce a Betty Crocker...OK 👌..


C
ClintP 58 days ago

We are not going to build depth with these players chopping and changing, a lot of these guys won’t be here next year let alone the next World Cup.

B
BM 57 days ago

Get off RAZOR's back ClintP🙃

T
Tk 57 days ago

Agreed. TJ is getting a farewell test start in front of his home town crowd and BB is a planned rotation. Just be straight and drop drop the trite catch phrases.

F
Forward pass 58 days ago

Barrett last played No 10 for the All Blacks in mid-2022, before Foster and his new assistants promoted Richie Mo’unga into the role and moved the two-time World Player of the Year to fullback.


Thats incorrect Ben and a rugby follower would know that Dmac's grandmother died when he was on his way to Argentina in 2018, so he flew back home. That tour they played Mounga at 10 and BB at 15. It was then continued with as DM injured his achillies in SR in 2019.

BB played 15 mostly but on 4 occasions between that 2018 tour and the last game at 10 he had in 22.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Hellhound 15 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

1 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat
Search