Infotainment Factory: Great's bold call on All Blacks selection battle

All Blacks great Carlos Spencer has declared that Richie Mo'unga and not Beauden Barrett should be New Zealand's No.10 at the Rugby World Cup.

Spencer, who had a long and highly publicised selection battle with Andrew Mehrtens during his own career, weighed in with his views on The Breakdown, which is available to watch on Stan Sport.

Barrett, 31, had been in shaky form for the Blues this season before rediscovering his Midas touch and torching the Rebels on Saturday.

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Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett of the All Blacks.

"I know there's a few doubters around but I'm back playing with a smile on my face," Barrett told Stan Sport's Allana Ferguson.

But Spencer said the two-time world player of the year should nonetheless take a back seat to Mo'unga, who was also impressive in his 100th game for the Crusaders last weekend.

"I have already got confidence to pick my No.1 right now - and that's Richie, I just think he's earned that," Spencer said.

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"I think he's the form first five at the moment and has been all year, for me...

"He's (Mo'unga) more of a threat… Beauden to me at the moment looks hesitant.

"He is lacking a little bit of confidence. It looks like to me he doesn't want to take contact, so he is not taking the ball to the line. I can't remember one instance (against the Rebels) where he actually took the ball to the line and got tackled or made contact with a defender."

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The other contender for the jersey is Chiefs star Damian McKenzie, who has more often been used at fullback or as a bench weapon at Test level.

"Damian has been pretty good as well, but I think we have to go for an outright first five with the World Cup," Spencer said.

"But in saying that I would also like to also have D Mac there, on the pitch as well, as my second No.10 but playing at fullback. We can set up a double sided attack with those two either side.

"Beaudy has got to be in there somewhere… I think we are going to need that experience, we are going to need his composure, we are going to need his leadership. Especially in big games and tight games."

Blues coach Leon MacDonald told media that Barrett didn't deserve the criticism he received following the side's loss to the Chiefs in round six.

Barrett botched an easy try by attempting to plant the ball closer to the posts.

"I thought his game was fantastic. He's a quality player and every player has moments when they're not at their best in any sport," MacDonald said.

"The sign of the champion that he is, he didn't flinch the whole week. I thought he was fantastic in the way he led our team, drove the strategy really well and he just got on with his business.''

Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui was also effusive in his praise for Barrett on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts.

"I still remember in 2015, watching Super Rugby and then the early Tests before the World Cup, and I said to myself 'Dan Carter, he's done. He's not going to make it to the World Cup, he's no good'," Turinui said.

"I'm saying don't read too much into it (Barrett's Super Rugby form). I was watching him going: 'This is not him'. Even his goal kicking, it's not like him. We're used to him kicking it and he slots the one from the sideline when it's the hardest kick of the night.

"I remember sitting down, watching some games in 2015 thinking, 'I'm not sure DC has still got it'. He did, he still had it, and he carried them through that semi in South Africa. They do not win that World Cup without that semi-final performance against South Africa."

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