Scott Hansen offers insight into All Blacks' starting halves combination

With Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga now plying their trade in Japan, the All Blacks are on the hunt for a new starting halves partnership, and one man has been tasked with the golden selections.

Assistant coach Scott Hansen is in charge of managing the All Blacks defence, while also specialising in the halfback and No. 10 positions; both key selections for such a dynamic attacking team against a staunch English defence.

Halfback was one of the most heavily contested positions for All Blacks selection throughout the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, but as the finals neared, the three top candidates became more clear.

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TJ Perenara returned to his familiar physical, competitive and accurate self for the Hurricanes, Finlay Christie resumed his astute work for the champions in Auckland and young gun Cortez Ratima continued his impressive rise through the ranks at the Chiefs.

Perenara boasts the most experience, something the coaches value in what is a younger team following the World Cup exodus, but Christie is the only member of the current squad involved in last year’s World Cup campaign and has relationships with two of the players competing for the 10 jersey in Beauden Barrett and Stephen Perofeta. Ratima on the other hand best knows the unpredictable talent of Damian McKenzie, making selections a complex decision.

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New Zealand

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England

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Hansen outlined what he was looking for from the three candidates in the lead-up to the team’s opening Test of the year.

“The key thing there around the management is how they manage it,” Hansen told media in Wellington at the start of the opening Test week.

“So, what do their weeks look like? How do they set the group up? Despite the (difference in) Test numbers, how do they lead during the week? They’re the things I’m looking at.

“I will say, TJ, his connection with the group, his ability to connect our game around our defence and attack has been really good this week.

“Young Cortez brings energy and excitement, a lot of smiles, massive energy on the field.

“And then with Fin, he’s just the ultimate professional around consistency and giving the roles that we need.

“So, we have three very good halfbacks we can choose from, just like we have three very good tens we can choose from.”

Of those aforementioned tens, McKenzie is the favourite to land the starting gig given his form and age – the latter being something the coaches are clearly conscious of as they begin a new World Cup cycle.

For selections in the England series, Hansen said it would come down to whose skillset best suited the matchup.

“We look at the opposition, we look at their strengths, we look at the opportunities for us and the game we want to play and then we slide in the 10 we believe is going to give us the outcome we need.

“What I will say with Beaudy coming in, sitting down, the calmness, the clarity he gives, I’ve been so impressed with Beaudy.

“His care for the group; he’s a proud All Black and I’ve really enjoyed being around Beaudy for the first time.”