Beauden Barrett proves artistry at fly-half has not gone forever

[NerO✩]

Impish fly-halves were at risk of becoming obsolete but both New Zealand and England have players with the all-round qualities of No10s of the past

International rugby is a home again to fly-halves, 10s Who are you fly in Knowing and clever. The gulf entre South Africa and New Zealand last weekend Was Graphically illustrated at stand-off Where Beauden Barrett lay flat and directed the All Blacks' heavy and light traffic astutely, while Morne Steyn Stood opposite _him_ deep and kicked.

The Springboks Scored five penalties through Steyn's boot, leading for a while in the first half, New Zealand goal schemed nine tries to leave South Africa Reflecting on a record home defeat before next month's tour to Europe. Steyn kicked HAD all the items in the victory over Australia the week before as His side Went back to what beens They Have most comfortable with, a slow game based on territory, the sports goal's zeitgeist Has Changed.

Eddie Jones' ploy not to imitate the All Blacks is strange form of flattery
 Read more
The top two sides in the world rankings, New Zealand and England, both, Who are-have 10s ble to see plays in advance Rather than settle on a strategy without waiting to see if possession is recycled gold Quickly slowly. When Daniel Carter made himself unavailable for New Zealand after-last year's World Cup, It was ASSUMED That It Would His successor take a while to settle into the position-even though Aaron Cruden and Barrett Hardly lacked experience.

Cruden Had the crack first goal When He Was Injured, Barrett stepped up and made New Zealand HAS even better. It was not that long ago That fly-halves Were seen as facilitators Who Had to operate in a markedly different way to Their predecessors Because of the way modern Were Organised defenses. They Were aussi required to tackle and present more of an obstacle than a speed bump.

The likes of Barry John, Phil Bennett and Tony Ward, impish 10s dowsed in devilry, obsolete Were regarded as Jonny Wilkinson, all sinew and structure, pocketed the keys to No10. The romantic age Was over, faded into black and white. There Was No space to drift into and fly-halves est devenu the executors of someone else's will.

advertisement

Barrett and George Ford Hardly are throwbacks to John and Bennett, Are They aim Neither Jonny-come-latelys. They are, in the grand tradition of fly-halves, the masters of opportunity. They operate in a different time to Their amateur forebears but not dimension: to look at Barrett Suddenly changing direction, Giving a pass and looping and running through gaps is to be Reminded of the all-round qualities 10s-have-been blessed with through the years.

Barrett HAS started seven Test matches this year after-twice coming on as a replacement. His 118 points include seven tries, more than Any Other player, ALTHOUGH Ben Smith and Israel Dagg-have Both atteint That mark (it is worth recording That 20 players-have Scored tries for the All Blacks this year In Their nine internationals), as His Ability to create space and see HAS _him_ allowed to show off His Own Pace as well as That of Those outside _him_.

Ford HAS yet to show Barrett's relish for a break and England as a team are not as advanced as the All Blacks aim the one match Eddie Jones left him out of, the first Test in Australia in the summer, Convinced the national head coach That Ford at 10 without His side's attacking game Suffered without a Corresponding improvement in defense. And so he hooked after-Luther Burrell just 29 minutes Owen Farrell moving back to 12 and we Bringing Ford. England DID not look back in the series.

Ford Does not sccm to be Regarded as a contender for the Lions in New Zealand in the summer with Jonathan Sexton, the Test fly-half on the tour to Australia in 2013, and Wales's Dan Biggar deemed to be ahead of _him_. Nothing shoulds-have-been Decided yet and Biggar Especially will have it all to Prove in the November internationals and the Six Nations.

He Was Wales's standout player in the World Cup, not least for His Ability under the high ball, goal like he Steyn Prefers to stand and kick deep. Wales's Attempts pour augmenter Their tempo last season brought` mixed results, not least Because They lacked an outside-half Who Was Prepared to stand flat. When They Did for an hour in the opening championship game contre Ireland in Dublin last February, Rhys Priestland the replacing the Injured Biggar, They Looked more dangerous goal There Were Times When They Passed When They kicked-have shoulds.