Former All Blacks star Israel Dagg insists that Ruben Love must remain at fly-half despite being able to cover full-back should a spot open up there.
The Hurricanes star started all three Nations Championship games at 10 and looks set to take that role for the opening Test against the Springboks.
Damian McKenzie has been alongside him in the 15 jersey, but the full-back went off injured on Tuesday, sparking concerns that he could miss next weekend’s clash.
Dave Rennie appeared to play that down, stating that it was a minor ankle issue, but if it is worse than first feared, then the head coach may be forced to reassess his line-up.
Beauden Barrett’s struggles
If he wants another playmaker to fill that shirt, he has Beauden Barrett available, but his form has been subpar in 2026.
The other clear option is Love with Richie Mo’unga, who has now joined up with the All Blacks squad as a replacement for Billy Proctor, a possibility for fly-half.
Rennie’s alternative is to put someone like Will Jordan at full-back and keep the 25-year-old in the key decision-making role.
“You don’t take Ruben out of 10, this guy has been mucked around for the last two or three years, he wants to play at 10, he’s spoken about it and you keep him at 10,” Dagg said on Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy show.
“You’ve got players that can come in and play 15 [if McKenzie isn’t fit], Mo’unga goes to the bench and adds that punch from the bench.”
Barrett’s displays this year have certainly complicated matters with the Blues man struggling against the Stormers on Friday.
Dagg defended him following that effort in Cape Town, but the former full-back believes that he won’t be involved in the 23 for the start of the Test series.
“That [Stormers] was a tough game and he was just trying to get in there, and was just a little bit apprehensive potentially,” he said.
“For me, I just say Ruben Love’s playing unbelievably so you can’t take that away from him, he’s your starting 10, Damian can get in there and play as well.
“Everyone knows Beaudy is going to do most of his work supporting the players and getting them ready to take on the Springboks.”
Doesn’t want mistake repeated
Dagg was joined on the show by co-host Scotty Stevenson, who reckons Barrett’s career has been hampered by switching between 10 and 15, and hopes the same mistake isn’t made with Love.
“I think a lot of the issue for Beauden Barrett is the fact he’s had to go between the two for the last 10 years of his career,” Stevenson said.
“He had designs after 2015 to be the guy, the main character, and he’s got a shot here and there before he went back to full-back. And then he’s gone back to 10.
“I think we’ve got obsessed with that utility factor. What I like about Ruben Love is if you want Ruben Love to go on to become a great All Black, leave him there.”
Dagg agreed, adding: “Don’t muck him around. We can overthink it as a nation and try to put all the pieces of the puzzle in there and get creative with it. It’s a very simple decision here: you keep Ruben at 10, and you’ve got others than can play that 15 position if you want two drivers of the team.”
The 2011 Rugby World Cup winner also insists that the All Blacks shouldn’t be worried about the fly-half position, insisting that they are blessed by having so many options.
“How bloody great is it knowing that if the unthinkable happens and Ruben goes down or there’s an injury to DMac, we’ve got Josh Jacomb, who I thought was very, very good against the Stormers when he came on, you’ve got Richie Mo’unga, who’s been waiting in the wilderness for an opportunity to fly over, and you’ve got Beauden Barrett, who’s played 145 Tests,” Dagg added.
“Everyone wrote Dan Carter off; he goes over to England [for the 2015 World Cup] and carves the house down and puts some confidence back in that position.
“What a luxury as a country to have five genuine good 10s to have an opportunity to wear that jersey, it’s such a good thing.”