Former All Black Pita Alatini believes a starting midfield combination of Jordie Barrett and Anton Lienert-Brown is vital to the side’s chances at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The former paired brilliantly with Rieko Ioane on Sunday morning in the All Blacks’ emphatic 55-23 victory over Wales, running in two tries and 39 metres across the match.
A former staple in the midfield prior to injury, Lienert-Brown was also solid in his second match back with a 21-minute spell off the bench.
While Ioane has continued to evolve in his role at 13, Alatini believes the experience of Lienert-Brown, combined with the skill of Barrett is the best way forward for head coach Ian Foster.
“I think we have to definitely have a look at the performances that Jordie has produced in the 12 jersey in the last two Tests,” Alatini told SENZ’s The Run Home.
“This Test was no different either in the way he performed, and I think what he’s giving to us is the different options of what he possesses I suppose and he’s executing them really well at the moment.
“It would be actually pretty good to see an ALB and Jordie Barrett combination go through one of the Tests that they have on this tour.”
Ex-international lock Ian Jones was equally vocal about the talent Barrett possesses in the midfield, citing his stature and skill as the main reasons he should start at second-five.
“Jordie at 12 is a weapon, an absolute weapon,” Jones told SENZ’s The Rugby Run.
“The guy is six-foot-four, he’s 108, 109 kgs, gets over the gain line … once we get over the gain line and we analyse the game, then we can play.
“If you can’t dominate the gain line, if you can’t get go-forward ball, if you can’t push the opposition back … the game of rugby’s hard.
“We don’t want to make it hard, we want to be able to dominate the gain line and dominate the game.”
Jones agrees that Barrett should combine with Lienert-Brown in the midfield, saying current centre Ioane should return to his former position on the wing.
The former All Black believes these three should be joined by Richie Mo’unga (first-five), Will Jordan (wing) and Beauden Barrett (fullback) in the starting backline.
The national side will now head to Edinburgh to take on Scotland on November 14 before taking on England just six days later to complete their end-of-year Northern Tour.