THE PERFECT 10s

However much rugby evolves, New Zealanders it seems can’t get beyond their obsession with the first-five being all-important or adapt to the idea that the All Blacks don’t see it as a one-man job any more.

For much of last year, the media narrative became strongly focused on the question of whether Richie Mo’unga should usurp Beauden Barrett as the All Blacks starting No 10.

Mo’unga was quite brilliant at the helm of the Crusaders’ successful Super Rugby defence and on the eve of the Rugby Championship, there was a near-furious lobby pushing for him to start ahead of Barrett.

The debate made its way to a perplexed All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, who couldn’t quite understand why so many people were telling him to put Mo’unga in the team.

“I walk away thinking ‘we’ve already put him in team’,” said Hansen. “He’s in the squad. He’s 24-years-old and he’s played one test match.

“He’s got competition from the specialist first-five in Beauden Barrett who’s played 64 tests, I think it is. He’s been world player of the year twice, so we won’t be in any rush to shift him.”

There was a weariness in Hansen’s tone which alluded to two things. He was a touch exasperated six years into his coaching reign to again be having to reiterate that there is a gulf between Super Rugby and test football and that he wasn’t going to be seduced by what happens in the former.

Secondly, he was equally exasperated that the debate continued to push for one or the other when the All Blacks were so obviously looking to use them in tandem.

“Both of them are very good rugby players,” he said. “Our job is to maximise the talent they’ve got and over time you’ll see Richie get more tests, I’m sure.”

When Barrett played quite brilliantly in the Bledisloe series, scoring four tries as part of a majestic performance in Auckland, Hansen presumably thought that would put an