Dan Carter has weighed in on the pressure Scott Robertson is under and who could be wearing the All Blacks number ten shirt at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
After playing 112 Test matches for New Zealand, Carter certainly knows a thing or two about representing the All Blacks in the jersey but, even with that knowledge, he is unable to predict who will take those reins at the World Cup in Australia.<\/p>\n
Scott Robertson has chopped and changed between Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett as the first-choice first-five eight in the opening two years of his tenure, and the selection frame is set for a fresh twist in 2026.<\/p>\n
Barrett, McKenzie or Mo\u2019unga?<\/p>\n
That is because Richie Mo\u2019unga, who was the go-to number 10 in 2023, is returning from a stint in Japan and once again becomes eligible for All Blacks<\/a>\u00a0selection.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, jeez. Your guess is as good as mine,\u201d Carter<\/a> coyly responded when asked at the 2027 World Cup draw<\/a> who he thinks will be the starting fly-half at the tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, Beaudy\u2019s been steering the ship this year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had DMac for the majority of last year, and we\u2019ve got Richie Mo\u2019unga coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n For most of his All Blacks career, Carter was the straightforward selection at number 10 when fit and only missed out on games through injury or when the coaches wanted to build depth.<\/p>\n However, he is pleased to see so much competition for the position he once dominated.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I love about that is the competition,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cSo exactly who is driving the ship, everyone has the opportunity to grab a hold of that jersey, but they\u2019ll all be competing, and that\u2019s exactly what you want.<\/p>\n \u201cThe coaches have come out and said that they want squad depth, you know, three to four players in each position. And when you have world-class players and depth in key positions like the number 10 jersey, then it\u2019s a real positive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018There\u2019s going to be upsets\u2019- Dan Carter\u2019s verdict on All Blacks-Springboks collision course at World Cup 2027<\/a><\/p>\n World Cups are a different beast<\/p>\n The 43-year-old did warn that the pressure a fly-half is under is completely different in Rugby World Cups than any other Test match.<\/p>\n He said as much when asked what are the important attributes a number 10 must have to be successful in 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to do your core basics well, the fundamentals of the game, in the 10 jersey because World Cups are different,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are different expectations and pressures. Things happen in World Cups that you can\u2019t even imagine, whether it\u2019s referee decisions or cards or injuries, you just don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you want the drivers of the team to just be doing the fundamentals of the game and performing under those extreme amounts of pressure. So, great communication,\u00a0great kicking, passing, and just directing the team around the field are really important. But also that ability to change momentum, when the game\u2019s needed.\u201d<\/p>\n New Zealand have lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup on three occasions, two of which while Carter was in the team.<\/p>\n While it has been a rocky two years under Robertson since he took over from former head coach Ian Foster, the ex-playmaker believes that the squad is talented enough to deny South Africa a three-peat.<\/p>\n Rugby World Cup draw: Five takeaways as Ireland handed \u2018best opportunity\u2019 to end hoodoo amid another \u2018lopsided\u2019 tournament benefiting England<\/a><\/p>\n