Former All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg says he “loved” Stuart Barnes’ article where the former England fly-half wrote he would choose Marcus Smith over Beauden Barrett “any day of the week”.

Barrett is considered one of the greats of modern football and has played more than 130 times for the All the black people But Barnes believes the England playmaker has surpassed the 33-year-old.

Marcus Smith > Beauden Barrett

The outspoken expert wrote in his Times column that Scott Robertson wouldn’t select Barrett at No. 10 if he had another viable option and believes Smith is “simply the best fly-half.”

“I would choose Mark Smith on Beauden Barrett ten times out of ten. “Harlequin is simply the best flyhalf at this time in rugby history,” he wrote.

He added: “By including them in an all-time pantheon, Barrett would occupy an elevated position. Smith wouldn’t understand. Not yet. The New Zealander has been one of the most dazzling rugby players to lace up a pair of boots this century.

“However, Smith is, if you believe he has the rugby brain and trained instincts to add an extra dimension to the England game, the future.
“Barrett is not so much the past, but rather the patch that is expected to hold the current team together.”

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Barrett’s former teammate dagg and commentator Scotty Stevenson gave their reaction to the article and admitted that the criticism had some merit.

However, Stevenson added: “It’s a brave man to write off Beauden Barrett.”

Dagg: “I love it.”

As for Dagg, he believes the article will galvanize Barrett in the same way it did Dan Carter ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Carter was also in the twilight of his career for the tournament, which would be his last in an All Blacks jersey, but starred throughout as New Zealand became the first team to win back-to-back World Cups.

“I love that article, I love it, write it and say what you want,” Dagg said in Scotty and Izzy from SENZ.

“I know when we read and heard a lot of people writing off DC (Dan Carter) heading into the 2015 World Cup – he’s injured, he’s over the hill, etc. – and then he produced an absolute clinic at the World Cup. .

“Don’t get me wrong, when you get older and you get to the end of your career, you have knee problems, you are going to lose a certain amount of speed, but you will never lose your mind and the ability to anticipate where the ball needs to be and where it needs to be to your team.

“It’s like a chess game. You’ll always be three or four steps ahead of the opponent trying to plan your move and that’s where Beauden gives me a lot of confidence, knowing he’s been there for over 130 Test matches.

“He knows how to deal with pressure and knows how to play rugby in a certain way.”

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fair point

Dagg revealed that he too had doubts about his ability and pace during the latter stages of his career, but said a conversation with former All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka changed his opinion.

“I remember having this conversation with Gilbert Enoka in Ireland and I said, ‘Dude, I’m getting a little old and I can’t keep up with these younger guys.’ “He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Yes, you’re older than a lot of these guys, but no one can read the game and anticipate it like you, that comes with experience,’” the former All Black continued.

“I’ll never forget that conversation… I may not have had the flash I had when I was 21, but I still know how to play and I’m a very deep thinker when it comes to rugby.

“So I have Beaudy’s confidence in that regard and he (Barnes) made a fair comment: he hasn’t played 10 at all. When was the last time you played as a 10? Yes, against the Wallabies, but when did he get any time in that position? “It’s been a long time.”

Stevenson enthused that Barrett’s skills are tailored to how the current All Blacks want to play, but added that the veteran halfback plays his best rugby when given multiple options and does not need to create or force a miracle play.

“You’ve just never had it locked in (the initial opening role), have you? He’s had moments where you thought, oh, he’s the future… there was a moment, certainly, after the 2015 World Cup, when he thought that shirt was going to be rightfully his and he found himself dragged between pillars and posts in terms of where it was. he sits in that All Blacks system,” Stevenson said.

“I would say one thing; if the All Blacks can impose their game plan, which is to flood that line against England and really flood them and put pressure on that fast defence, get the bodies right on that advantage line, find the spaces, take on the weak shoulders, make bursting balls – Beauden Barrett can have an absolute field day.”

The All Blacks can exploit England’s defense

Dagg agreed with his co-host and said he saw opportunities for the All Blacks to punish England with Steve Borthwick’s team implementing a blitz defence.

“From that English series, there were acres of space on the edges, the English bring a lot of heat with their defensive system, which the Irish are used to,” he said.

“But there’s a lot of space there so don’t be afraid to throw those little kicks which Stuart Barnes has already said he’s lost the ability to go over or put the ball behind them or be brave.” with your lines.

“If you are able to overcome that lead line in the first phase, in the second phase, they will not be able to align the speed two or three times in a row. If you’re constantly backing up, that slows it down; Execution is important.”

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