Richie in front

Richard Knowler (Press, Oct 27) hankers back to the time Beauden Barrett was New Zealand’s best first-five. This does not mean that he now deserves to be the All Blacks’ starting No 10.

He was the starting 10 in the last All Blacks defeat when the attack, according to reports, ‘‘went sideways’’. Yes, he can be electrifying and gets the media excited on those occasions, endless photos and salivations, but Richie has constantly outplayed him and has been the incumbent 10 by performance as a 10, not by reputation.

My prediction is that Richie will be our 10 against Ireland because the All Blacks can’t afford another loss.

James Stewart, Harewood