Bledisloe Cup: All Blacks to pick Richie Mo’unga at No. 10, Wallabies say

The Wallabies believe they have the answer to one of the most intriguing selection decisions facing the All Blacks: the call between Richie Mo’unga or Beauden Barrett at No. 10.

“Both players are exceptional players, world class players, [but] you’d think Mo’unga would start, maybe with Aaron Smith, ”Wallabies defense coach Matt Taylor said Thursday.

“But that doesn’t mean they can have some selection clashes or try different people early in their preparation.

“But listen, we think Mo’unga will probably start.”

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Guessing games between the sides have been a feature of the test preparation at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday, with various positions of the All Blacks’ backline at stake.

However, no decision will be more important than the decision at No. 10, where Mo’unga is coming off an excellent Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.

But he was relatively calm in both the North vs. South game and Canterbury’s Ranfurly Shield loss to Barrett’s Taranaki, while Barrett finished Super Rugby Aotearoa strong at No. 10 for the Blues.

That means the Wallabies would be foolish to put all their eggs in one basket, and Taylor confirmed that they had focused on getting their own defensive form before worrying about the All Blacks.

“We have focused more on our structures,” said Taylor, who was previously the coach of the Queensland Reds and Scotland.

“We do a little bit more on individual players later in the week in terms of how we think we can apply pressure, or things like that.

“When you don’t know exactly who they’re going to pick, it’s hard to guess, but again it’s a combination they’ve used for a long time.”

The All Blacks favored Mo’unga and Barrett in a dual playmaker system last year, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them employ that strategy again.

Coach Ian Foster has been careful not to discount Barrett as a fullback option, and may simply want to get what he perceives as his best players in the paddock at the same time.

In particular, Foster has not blamed the Mo’unga-Barrett axis for the All Blacks’ loss to England in the Rugby World Cup last year, but rather indicates that the damage was done early on.

That has likely contributed to the Wallabies ‘confidence that Mo’unga will start the test, and the Wallabies’ new defensive systems are guaranteed to be under pressure Sunday.

“I think both parties are starting over in some way,” Taylor said.

“The All Blacks coaching group is new, and they also have some young and exciting players in their ranks.

“We are probably having a little guessing game between the two teams.”

However, the Wallabies players themselves are convinced that they can cause a surprise on Sunday.

“There is always a belief within this team,” Lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto said. “Obviously a new coach, a new coaching staff and a lot of new faces, so there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm in this group.

“Being locked up, we have been able to get to know each other a little more and we have been forced to be together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It will only benefit this group.

“Off the field it is a very important part of the results and gelling.

“At the end of the day, we still have to go out and act, but it’s also good to be so close. It’s good for the signals for us. “

The All Blacks will reveal their team at 11:30 am on Friday.