NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / Sport / Rugby / All Blacks

Tri Nations rugby: Patrick McKendry - The two players under pressure to perform for All Blacks against Argentina

Patrick McKendry
By Patrick McKendry
Reporter·NZ Herald·
26 Nov, 2020 06:00 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster watches his players. Photo / Photosport

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster watches his players. Photo / Photosport

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

OPINION:

If the All Blacks, having lost two tests in a row, feel like they are standing on a precipice ahead of their next and last of a very strange year, that's because they are.

Another defeat to Argentina would require some difficult decisions to be made, and potentially by New Zealand Rugby with regards to the coaching set-up.

There will also be extra scrutiny on every player and every combination and perhaps two players and one combination in particular.

In explaining his squad for the test against the Pumas in Sydney on Saturday, head coach Ian Foster made reference to the fact that every All Black had to make better decisions on attack than they have during their last test defeats to the Wallabies and Pumas in Brisbane and Sydney respectively, and that if and when things did break down in that area, playmakers Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett were invariably in the critics' crosshairs.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett. Photo / Photosport
Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett. Photo / Photosport

He's right on all counts, but Mo'unga, after one of the tests of his career in the record 43-5 demolition of the Wallabies in Sydney four weeks ago, wasn't selected in the fourth test against the Aussies a week later, and while there was some talk this week about Foster tossing up whether to shift Barrett from fullback back into the No 10 jersey after a defeat to the Pumas notable for its tepid All Black attack, it thankfully didn't transpire.

To drop Mo'unga after one ordinary performance in a team full of them would have been a knee-jerk reaction not in keeping with what until now has mainly been a methodical approach by Foster (although in hindsight making six changes to the backline for the Australia defeat was a gamble that backfired).

Mo'unga is now the best No 10 in New Zealand and Barrett the best fullback (his brother Jordie doesn't have the experience and temperament to start there in big tests), so the pair must start together as dual playmakers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A case could be made for attempting to recreate Beauden's bench impact role from 2012-2016, a period when the All Blacks were almost untouchable, but those days are gone - this team simply doesn't have the depth to allow it. Besides which, Barrett would probably see it as a significant demotion and as a senior figure do not underestimate his influence on selections.

So it's up to those two to take this test by the scruff of the neck and set the agenda on attack – for the sake of the All Blacks as well as their continued incumbency in the No 10 and No 15 jerseys.

Discover more

All Blacks

Foster's ABs revelation: 'We've had a few apologies from referees'

26 Nov 03:30 AM
Sport|rugby

Gregor Paul: Busting the ABs myth - the real recipe for beating Pumas

26 Nov 03:00 AM
All Blacks

ABs rookie's second chance: Foster makes changes for Argentina rematch

26 Nov 12:30 AM
All Blacks

Foster explains changes to All Blacks team for Pumas rematch

26 Nov 12:00 AM

Yes, the pack has to fully engage again after a collective foot was taken off the gas pedal in the two losses, but, as Foster said, better decisions have to made on attack and Mo'unga and Barrett have to drive that.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster watches his players. Photo / Photosport
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster watches his players. Photo / Photosport

It's no secret that the Pumas will bring total commitment on defence and that they will be difficult to break down, especially early. They are also likely to attempt to use the emotion of Diego Maradona's recent death as an extra motivating force, although going by their performances over the past fortnight, they are unlikely to need it.

So there can be no excuses for Mo'unga or Barrett, who have had the past fortnight to strategise and finetune their attacking methods.

And yet, for all their attacking and creative quality as individuals, there remains a sense that Foster isn't completely sold on the dual playmaker concept which in itself raises more questions than answers.

Today he once again refused to completely commit to it as a long-term option, saying right now it's the best thing for the team.

Whether that's because Foster is merely being diplomatic because Barrett still harbours strong ambitions to play No 10, who knows, but for a team standing on the edge and two players and one combination in particular in the spotlight, it wasn't exactly a vote of confidence.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from All Blacks

All Blacks

All Blacks make widespread changes for final French test

Watch
Premium
OpinionGregor Paul

Gregor Paul: The risks in Razor's change-heavy All Blacks side

All Blacks

All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from All Blacks

All Blacks make widespread changes for final French test
All Blacks

All Blacks make widespread changes for final French test

Liam Napier and Elliott Smith discuss All Blacks team for third French test.

Watch
17 Jul 06:14 AM
Premium
Premium
Gregor Paul: The risks in Razor's change-heavy All Blacks side
Gregor Paul
OpinionGregor Paul

Gregor Paul: The risks in Razor's change-heavy All Blacks side

17 Jul 01:33 AM
All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France
All Blacks

All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France

16 Jul 11:52 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP