Shortly after their best performance so far, Beauden Barrett said the playmaking partnership he and Richie Mo'unga were forming for the All Blacks had "a lot more potential" - and today he revealed the lengths they're going to to reach it.
Mo'unga and Barrett shone in the 10 and 15 jerseys respectively for the All Blacks in their 23-13 win over the Springboks a week ago, but since travelling to Beppu for their next Test they've taken a step up in making their combination fly.
"We're roomies this week," Mo'unga told reporters today.
"It's given us a good chance to talk about things that aren't related to footy and ask how each other's families are doing and stuff like that.
"It all helps for when we're on the field - it builds a special bond, it builds a friendship and we can trust each other and when we're on the field, we're confident in what we're trying to do."
Despite comments from management earlier in the week about potentially resting one of them for each of the upcoming games against Canada and Namibia, the All Blacks named the pair to start in the same positions for tomorrow night's match against the Canucks.
The pair had arguably their best outing together in the 23-13 win over South Africa. (Source: Other)
All Blacks captain Kieran Read said after yesterday's naming that at game time he does the coin toss and then effectively hands the team over to the duo - a call of confidence the pair are inspired by.
"I think it's awesome for myself, having that confidence that the skipper really believes in what I'm trying to do and what decisions I'm making for the team," Mo'unga said.
"It's not something that just happens. We all catch up during the week to make sure that we are on the same page so that we have plans for anything that can happen out on the field and I think that's something that people don't see - the meetings that we have.
"We just don't make these decisions off the cuff. These are things that are well-planned before depending on how the game is going."
Barrett added Read's message extends to others too.
"We're all encouraged to find our own solutions for the team from numbers one to 15 so when we come together, it's not just us speaking in the huddles.
"We all have a responsibility to relay information and come up with those solutions.
"But it does help when Read gives us the license or the confidence to do that."
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