The All Blacks perform the haka before playing the USA. Photo / Photosport
The All Blacks perform the haka before playing the USA. Photo / Photosport
OPINION
With the All Blacks smash and grab venture to the United States put to bed, attention turns to another money-spinning fixture, and a special occasion for Beauden Barrett.
From one 'add on' match to the next, New Zealand Rugby's coffers will be much healthier after this weekend's sold outtest - featuring 74,500 fans - against Wales in Cardiff where the All Blacks perform before their largest crowd for three years and haul in up to $4 million for the national body.
Such an atmosphere – the Welsh singing is spectacular in full voice – will be a fitting occasion for Barrett should he become the 11th All Blacks centurion, the second of the season after Aaron Smith achieved the feat at Eden Park.
The benefits of banking significant revenue from a second successive test outside the designated window are offset, somewhat, by facing another heavily depleted team.
For this match Wales are denied access to their English-based players which includes Lions contingent Louis Rees-Zammit, Dan Biggar and Taulupe Faletau.
Justin Tipuric, Liam Williams, who had his appendix removed, Josh Navidi and Leigh Halfpenny are also unavailable due to injury, leaving former Auckland coach Wayne Pivac a mighty task in his first test against his countrymen.
Expectations are, therefore, the All Blacks not only win, but win well against the Six Nations champions.
Barrett's milestone match will likely hand him the keys this week. The All Blacks are keen to rotate Richie Mo'unga and Barrett through the No 10 jersey for the remainder of the year to expose them to the suffocating defensive line speed pressure the Springboks successfully employed which is widely replicated in the Northern Hemisphere.
Beauden Barrett. Photo / Photosport
Little separates Barrett and Mo'unga at present. After a slow start to the year following his return from Japan, Barrett's best test came against the Wallabies in Perth when he regularly challenged the line.
In Mo'unga's absence, while he remained home for the birth of his second child, Barrett enjoyed consistent game time throughout the Rugby Championship but both playmakers struggled without front foot ball against the Boks.
Mo'unga, after excelling earlier in the year, returned to the starting role in the 104-14 rout of the USA last weekend, slotting 9/12 conversions, claiming a try and showcasing his deft footwork. In tests against Italy, Ireland and France his time will come, but this week will surely be Barrett's to savour.
As fate would have it, should Barrett get the nod it will be his 50th test in the No 10 jersey after starting 14 times at fullback and coming off the bench for the other 35 appearances - the vast majority of those in his first four years with the All Blacks when he was largely behind Dan Carter and used in a super sub role to devastating effect.
Now in his 10th test season, joining the illustrious All Blacks centurion club is just reward for Barrett's constant presence, and the many world-class moments he has delivered along the way. He sits seventh equal, alongside the late, great Jonah Lomu, on the All Blacks' all time try-scoring list with 37, having surpassed Tana Umaga last weekend.
From a selection perspective, the other main talking point is the choice between Akira Ioane and Ethan Blackadder at blindside flanker.
Ioane made his mark against the Wallabies and Pumas where his skills on the edge and vastly improved work-rate came to the fore, only to fade from sight when the Boks arrived. In those two tight, tense contests against the world champions, Blackadder sent a message in his starting performance from openside and off the bench in the second test.
In his rookie test campaign Blackadder looks born for the rugged, combative requirements the arena demands. It could be the All Blacks reward him for his compelling recent efforts against the Boks, which may in turn spark a reaction from Ioane to win back the jersey in the coming weeks.
Ian Foster faces other difficult decisions in the well-stocked loose forwards, with Sam Cane seemingly unlikely to feature after playing his first test for six months off the bench against the USA. Luke Jacobson or Dalton Papalii's inclusion probably hinges on whether Ardie Savea slots in at No 8 or openside.
Aside from Welsh coach Pivac other familiar faces will populate the opposition with New Zealanders Johnny McNicholl, Willis Halaholo and Gareth Anscombe, three games into his comeback from 25 months out following knee surgery, set to line up against their country of birth.
Attack coach Brad Mooar could be something of a secret weapon for the All Blacks this week after being prised home one year into his three-season deal with Welsh club Scarlets.
Throw in Barrett's imminent milestone that further raises the stakes, and the Welsh dream of extracting their first win over the All Blacks since 1953 is all the more daunting.
