Wrong for the All Blacks
series against France. It was as if they didn’t want to to make a hard call on Beauden or Jordie Barrett and McKenzie.
They paid a price against the Springboks in Wellington in 2018, losing 36-34 in another of those games where composure was lacking in the final minutes with Beauden at No 10 and McKenzie at fullback after Jordie had started at No 15.
Yet, when the All Blacks headed north the Barrett-McKenzie partnership was resumed, with moderate success, while Jordie was resurrected as an unlikely test wing against Italy.
So, Mo’unga’s shift to the No 10 jersey this year felt late because it was late. Even during the Rugby World Cup Mo’unga and Barrett were talking about developing their understanding, rather than having it completely bedded down.
The McKenzie injury and Liam Squire’s absence
Perhaps the All Blacks would have reaped the rewards of their investment in Barrett and McKenzie had the brilliant Chiefs fullback stayed injury-free.
For those in the Deep South the solution was simple. Put Ben Smith at fullback. Perhaps it was the right one. But in the context of where the All Blacks were with their planning – deep into the ‘dual playmaker’ system – it was far from that simple.
The All Blacks had convinced themselves the way to beat modern defences was to have two playmakers on the field.
Up front, there was another issue. Liam Squire, the Highlanders No 6 who gave the All Blacks a hard edge, had been dogged by injuries
World Cup third place playoff: All Blacks 40 (Ben Smith 2, Joe Moody, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty, Richie Mo’unga tries; Mo’unga 5 con) Wales 17 (Hallam Amos, Josh Adams tries; Rhys Patchell con, Dan Biggar con, pen). HT: 28-10. for almost a year and had declared himself unavailable.
The Eddie Jones factor and England’s excellence
If you think all of these factors had escaped the attention of England coach Eddie Jones, dream on.
His injury-depleted England side had almost beaten the All Blacks at the end of 2018 and he would have concluded from that defeat he was on the right track.
Not only that, perhaps he had sensed the All Blacks’ vulnerability to pressure.
As England took control the All Blacks’ leaders looked wild-eyed and stressed, just as they had done in Chicago and Dublin, and in Wellington against the Springboks, and against the Wallabies in Perth in August when they lost 47-26.
It appeared there was an inability to adapt to the situation, to dig themselves out of a hole. But then again, you only ever get one Richie McCaw.