Ardie Savea impressed after a late starting call against Argentina
The 22 minutes Richie Mo'unga had on the field against Argentina may be more significant than he could imagine in terms of his potential role for the All Blacks over the next couple of years.
Mo'unga was so effective at first-five in Buenos Aires after Beauden Barrett replaced Ben Smithat fullback that he must suddenly come into the reckoning as an impact player off the reserves bench.
Previously he had been regarded as a starting specialist, a talented and composed player who could set the agenda at the start of a test but who probably couldn't provide a great deal of impact otherwise.
But Damian McKenzie's absence from the bench after flying home due to a family bereavement, and Mo'unga's form from it, has opened up another game-breaking opportunity for the All Blacks, another ace in Steve Hansen's hand, if you like, and 12 months out from the World Cup that added X-factor cannot be underestimated.
McKenzie is a handful for tiring defences at the back – we know that only too well after two stunning performances this year at Eden Park where he tore up the French in June and the Wallabies in August – but we saw yesterday that Mo'unga can be a similar threat in the front line, and there is an air of added solidity at the back with Barrett there.
At Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Mo'unga went on five runs with the ball for a distance of 41m. He beat two defenders, laid on one try assist for Anton Lienert-Brown with a cute kick through near the posts, and made six out of six tackles.
Richie Mo'unga of the All Blacks looks on during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Argentina. Photo / Getty Images.
It was a performance reminiscent of so much of his form for the Crusaders over the past couple of years during which time they won two Super Rugby titles. He displayed confidence and calmness as well as fast feet, vision and a surprising amount of power.
Mo'unga had a difficult evening three weeks earlier against the Pumas in Nelson – the occasion of his first test start. He would have learned a lot from that – much of it to do with trusting himself and the players around him on the biggest stage – and his response was extremely impressive.
The question now is how will Hansen treat his backline bench make-up for Sunday's test against the Springboks in Pretoria?
The All Blacks head coach stated before the Pumas test that he was treating this fortnight as preparation for next year's World Cup quarter-final and semifinal, if his side qualify that far. Hansen wanted to keep changes to a minimum in order to cement combinations as much as possible; the next time he will have such a chance will be over two weeks in November when the All Blacks face England and Ireland.
The rested Owen Franks is likely to return to tighthead prop, with Kieran Read, who didn't make the trip to Buenos Aires, back at No8. Aaron Smith will almost certainly return as starting halfback.
Hansen will probably go for either Anton Lienert-Brown or Jack Goodhue on the bench as midfield cover for Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty, with Perenara there too plus either McKenzie or Mo'unga.
Hansen will probably be inclined to go for McKenzie, but what a great vote of confidence it would be, and a potential nod to the future, should he go for Mo'unga instead, because another impressive performance would make Hansen's November selections for two highly anticipated tests very interesting indeed.
