Rugby World Cup winner Stephen Donald has criticised the decision to move Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie to full-back for this weekend’s Super Rugby Pacific opener.
Defending champions the Blues take on the Chiefs on Saturday in a repeat of last year’s final, which the Auckland outfit dominated, claiming a 41-10 triumph.
The big talking point is no doubt the decision of both head coaches to play their star playmakers at 15 rather than fly-half for this clash.
While they will no doubt step into first receiver on occasion, it is Harry Plummer and Josh Jacomb who have been tasked with guiding the respective teams around the field.
Plummer’s influence in Super Rugby win
It was Plummer who took the reins at 10 while Barrett was in Japan last year as he guided the Blues to their first Super Rugby title since 2003.
Donald started off by praising the 26-year-old, who received the nod from boss Vern Cotter for the competition opener against the Chiefs.
“It’s a wonderful looking backline but it’s a real tip of the hat to Harry Plummer because he keeps the 10 jersey ahead of some guy who was world player of the year and is the incumbent All Blacks 10,” he said on Sport Nation’s Beaver & Guy show.
But then the discussion moved on to whether playing the two best candidates for the All Blacks 10 jersey at full-back was healthy for the Test team and the players themselves.
With Richie Mo’unga almost certainly not returning until at least 2026 and last year’s third choice, Plummer, heading off to France at the end of the Super Rugby campaign, Barrett and McKenzie will almost certainly vie for the fly-half shirt, just like they did in 2024.
Damian McKenzie to duel Beauden Barrett but in unexpected position as Chiefs stack bench with All Blacks for 2024 final rematch
All Blacks boss Scott Robertson entrusted the Chiefs star with the responsibility for the first part of the campaign but, following several mixed displays, the more experienced playmaker entered the equation.
The 33-year-old duly ended the Test season as the first choice pivot and it will be interesting to see whether he retains his position when the mid-year series comes around in July.
However, Donald reckons that switching between the positions will not help either of them and that it has already affected their game.
Need more time at 10
“Josh Jacomb is a wonderful footballer and has a huge future but, from an All Black point of view, from a Damian point of view, I just think the more time he plays at 10, the better,” he said.
“It’s funny to say but when you watch Damian and Beaudy at times, you would almost say they do look like they could do with more time in the 10 jersey.
“It even seems funny to say that about Beaudy. Now when Beaudy goes and plays 10, he looks like he’s a 15 playing 10 as opposed to what he used to look like.
“I just think, ‘just bank the games boys’.”
READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific 2025: How to watch, TV channels, live stream and start times
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