Wynne Gray: Intrigue over two All Blacks playmakers

Ben Smith is still the best All Black fullback. Photo / Brett Phibbs

COMMENT

Head-scratching isn't it? The latest All Black selection feels like avoiding e-bikes on a jaunt down Auckland's pavements.

There are high levels of thrill and anxiety about choosing Damian McKenzie as the fullback with a twist of duties for tonight's test with the Wallabies in Yokohama.

Questions dominate the decision with the primary intrigue about whether twin playmakers Beauden Barrett and McKenzie is the template for a must-win World Cup match. This tour and tests against Australia, England and Ireland are gauges for next year's ninth tournament where victories are the only currency.

If this double playmaker plan is strong, then McKenzie should wear the No 15 jersey again in a fortnight at Twickenham for a repeat examination of the theory. If that happens you can be sure England coach Eddie Jones and his astute kicker Owen Farrell will be testing the combination.

Ben Smith and Jordie Barrett alternated at fullback during the June series with France and the Rugby Championship after the All Black staff asked McKenzie to concentrate more on a first-five role because his talents were better suited to that position for test rugby. Now he's the business as fullback with a roving playmaker role and Smith is shunted off to the wing and Barrett asked to work more on his game.

Maybe it's another piece of Steve Hansen creative subterfuge, something that has blossomed during his time as All Black assistant and now coach. Get every other team talking about the switch, asking themselves if they should follow suit and how to combat it when Hansen's master template under lock and key at NZR headquarters has Smith at fullback for the World Cup.

The only real pickle will be if the double deception works and Hansen has to rethink his own ideas.

He'd probably unfurl his mocking grin and suggest that's one of the great things about rugby - the game is simple but the answers aren't always clear.

Having attacking runners either side of the ruck is a luxury if the All Blacks have the ball and are in the right part of the field. The Wallabies will look to squeeze McKenzie by kicking high near the touchline and bringing their defence up quickly or trying to get Israel Folau and others into an aerial contest with the shorter fullback.

The All Blacks will wish them luck and suggest Wallaby plans to kick are a chance to regain possession and launch counter-attacks if the kick or chase line is not in sync.

McKenzie and his teammates will relish those openings but, and this is where the heat comes on the fullback, he needs to pick his moments, he doesn't have to make something happen every time he gets his hands on the ball.

His threat will increase the longer he waits while the anxiety will rise for the Wallabies and for those of us who maintain that no matter the way the All Blacks want to play, Smith brings the experience, voice and control as the best fullback in any test, especially at the World Cup.