Which 10 will get the nod to face the Springboks ?

BARRY WOODERSON

Who is your perfect 10 for the All Blacks?

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Cruden's edge is in his leadership. He is a natural-born leader. He captained the New Zealand under-20s team to victory at the 2011 Junior RWC and also took charge of Manawatu at a very young age. On top of that, he also acts as a co-captain for the Chiefs.

Where on a rugby field is inspiring leadership more critical and influential to a team than at first-five? As the pivot, the whole game literally revolves around them. They're the brains, the tacticians, the decision makers who control the game.

Here Cruden possesses great vision. He impresses with his passing and kicking game, his stepping, his speed and acceleration. He has the innate ability to take the ball to the line and confound the opposition. He has his rivals completely mesmerised as to what wizardry he will perform next. Will he dummy, pass left, pass right, drop the ball onto his foot, fire a cut-out pass? The opposition is bewitched. It's like mooloo magic.

Many attributed the Chiefs' 2012 Super Rugby success to Sonny Bill Williams' influence. But that was before they went back-to-back without him in 2013. Cruden has been the key to that success.

Let's look at Barrett's Super Rugby performances for a minute. Considering there are more All Blacks in Barrett's Hurricanes team, one would have thought they would've done much better. But a Cruden-led Chiefs team has repeatedly knocked them out of contention.

In the 2012 and 2013 semi finals between the Crusaders and the Chiefs where Cruden faced off against Dan Carter, the All Blacks understudy was victorious on both occasions. In fact, one could argue he has already usurped the great DC.

Cruden has also never lost an All Black game he has started in. Nor, for that matter, has Barrett. Long may they rule.

Comparing Barrett's form to Cruden in the test matches against England this year one, it's hard to look past  how the All Blacks' leads were whittled away after Cruden left the field. Coupled with the game against Argentina where Barrett missed the majority of his conversion attempts, I would have to say Cruden has the edge over him when it comes to the No 10 jersey.

One area Barrett excels over Cruden is in his versatility off the bench. Barrett can cover fullback, first-five and wing, which makes him a very valuable super-sub. Barrett has awesome acceleration and injecting him into the game when players are starting to tire is a masterstroke by coach Steve Hansen.

We saw that demonstrated perfectly at Ellis Park in South Africa last year. The Springboks didn't know what hit them when Barrett came on and scored. And how about his brilliant cover defence - saving a certain Willie le Roux try? Simply awesome. For that reason I would really like to see Barrett start at fullback for the All Blacks on occasion.

I think having both Barrett in whatever capacity AND Cruden on the field against Australia had a lot to do with the 50 points the All Blacks ran up recently. I'd like to see more of that in the future if I can put my order in please..

StuffNZ

Barrett is better than cruden no questions... but if kiwis want to play cruden fine... he gets found out when he fwds get bashed which I have a feeling may happen this weekend.

Redsman i think you said the same thing before the ABs kicked yr hapless wombat butt by  a record 50 plus points with Cruden at the helm...

 ...Bad luck for SA...Bad luck for Pollard also although he's on a hiding to nothing whoever he faces at 10... Am expecting another masterclass from Cruden...

Luckily for South Africa though there is rain forecast otherwise it could easily have been another 50 pointer...but I'd be very worried if I was a Bok fan...