June 28 2021 | Richie Mo'unga shares his battle against Beauden Barrett for the number 10 spot in the upcoming test against Tonga. Video / NZ Herald
OPINION:
There's an art form to being frenemies in the All Blacks, a team that demands positional rivals be able to compete and also collaborate with one another.
It's a team that allows room for competitive tension but doesn't tolerate that becoming toxic, self-interested or detrimental to the collective prospects.
And hence it is a delicate and tricky dynamic for players to chase their dream and not hate someone else for taking it.
Given his almost supernatural composure and unshakeable calm, it is perhaps no surprise that Richie Mo'unga seemingly not only accepts but understands the complexity of the dynamic forming between himself and Beauden Barrett ahead of what will now most likely be a prolonged battle between the two of them to wear the All Blacks No 10 shirt.
The world is desperate to pit these two as rivals and in an age when drama sells, there will be thousands of minds willing to believe that theirs is a relationship fraught with difficulty.
It would be ridiculous to imagine that it will be all plain sailing between the two of them this year when the selection wheel spins in favour of one over the other, but on day one of the 2021 test season proper, Mo'unga set out where things are at between the two.
He was clear that their relationship is founded on mutual respect and on his part, he sees Barrett as an inspiration, role model and mentor.
Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett are All Blacks frenemies. Photo / Photosport
Barrett, who was World Rugby Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017 set the bar at an extraordinarily high level for All Blacks No 10s and Mo'unga has always understood to reach similar heights, he needs to emulate parts of his rival's game, thinking and preparation.
The two have been working in close proximity since Mo'unga became a squad regular in 2018 and Barrett has been generous with his time and advice, not fearful at all of implanting within his young rival enough wisdom to one day be usurped.
Both players have probably always, deep down, been aware that they would reach the point they now have – where they can both stake equally compelling claims to the play-making throne.
And that, of itself, creates a new dynamic as arguably back in 2018 the relationship was more master and apprentice and then in 2019 and 2020, they weren't necessarily positional rivals as Barrett was predominantly being selected at fullback.
What the next five months will therefore do, is test the strength and authenticity of their relationship and see if they can continue to share ideas and retain the same level of openness and desire to help one another.
This is the crux of being an All Black and what, essentially, the team has built its entire culture on since 2004. The team can't just be said to be bigger than the individual, the players have to demonstrate their conviction to that line of thinking.
Individuals have to set their sights on what they want, commit themselves wholly to getting it and then be big enough – selfless enough – to instantly commit to helping their rival should their own dreams be dashed.
Richie Mo'unga celebrates his try with Beauden Barrett during last year's Bledisloe Cup clash in 2020. Photo / Photosport
It's almost a case of players being asked to not be human – to bury their natural instincts to wallow in hurt and self-pity when they are not selected as they had hoped.
Even harder to fulfil is the requirement to not brand a rival an enemy and cut them off socially. Plenty of international teams have endured torrid internal rivalries between players competing for the same jersey, the most notable in recent times being the battle between Ronan O'Gara and Johnny Sexton for Ireland's No 10 jersey.
These two didn't like each other for years and they were far more likely to have a scrap at training than they were an honest and open exchange of intellectual property.
Mo'unga and Barrett's relationship staying on the same steady footing it currently is and always has been, will be just as critical to the All Blacks fortunes this year.
It is likely to be a year that sees coach Ian Foster determine a pecking order between the two, but that will still require both men to be heavily involved.
More importantly, however, the nature of their relationship to date has brought the best out of them. Mo'unga has been inspired to reach Barrett's heights and critically, has been given a foot up by his rival to get there.
In turn, the rise and rise of Mo'unga has demanded Barrett keep looking for more within his own game and the free-flow of ideas and willingness by both men to commit to helping one another seems far more likely to see the All Blacks play better, smarter football than the two of them protecting what they know.
It is hard to be frenemies, but ultimately richly rewarding.
