The inevitable questions about who should wear the All Blacks No.10 jersey are bound to continue well into next year after Damian McKenzie was given the prestigious honour of being named in World Rugby’s dream team.

Bizarrely though, the 29-year-old didn’t even finish the year in Scott Robertson’s first-choice side as he came off the bench in their final two Tests of the year against France and Italy.

The World Rugby judging panel was made up of Jacques Burger (NAM), Fiona Coghlan (IRE), Thierry Dusautoir (FRA), Victor Matfield (RSA), Drew Mitchell (AUS), Ugo Monye (ENG), Kieran Read (NZL), Melodie Robinson (NZL) and Blaine Scully (USA).

McKenzie was given an extended run in the No.10 jersey but was dropped to the bench for the All Blacks’ home Bledisloe fixture in Wellington. It came after the mercurial flyhalf came under scrutiny for a roller-coaster ride in Sydney, where he butchered several try-scoring moments that led to the Wallabies staging a second-half comeback that ended just three points short.

McKenzie later started just one of the All Blacks’ four Tests in Europe and the British Isles, with Barrett ruled out of their win against Ireland in Dublin because of concussion.

McKenzie did manage to silence several of his critics with a mature performance against Andy Farrell’s men, as he played a starring role in ending Ireland’s 19-Test unbeaten streak at the Aviva by leaving with an 18-point bag.

At the time, McKenzie acknowledged he needed a strong performance after his up-and-down season.

“I probably needed to, and tonight was a great night to try and do that,” McKenzie said.

“Look, I was able to work off a great platform that our forwards set. It makes my job a whole lot easier. We’ve got some exciting backs who also make my job a whole lot easier, too.”

Robertson, meanwhile, said he was thrilled that McKenzie had repaid their faith in his during the season.

“With DMac, we controlled it off the left boot and the right boot. We’ve got a lot better at that. Overall, our kicking game was a lot better,” Robertson said.

“We’ve given him a chance, we gave him seven in a row for nights like this. Everyone goes: ‘What are you trying?’ Well, this tonight, this is why we get the pay from it.”

Later, he added: “He was good, hey? He’s so mercurial and sometimes he just doesn’t quite get it right, but when he does – and he got it right on Friday – it’s pretty special.”

Despite his starring role, McKenzie lost his place in the starting side with Barrett preferred in the No.10 jersey a week later against France – the All Blacks’ only defeat in their last seven Tests of the year – and Will Jordan at flyhalf.

It’s why the decision to pick McKenzie over others like England’s Marcus Smith, Argentina’s Tomas Al𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧oz and Scotland’s Finn Russell raised eyebrows.

South Africa, the world No.1 side, used several different players at flyhalf, including Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok  and Jordan Hendrikse, who started against Wales, while two-time World Cup-winning playmaker Handre Pollard predominantly came off the bench.

Former Scottish flyhalf Dan Parks said he didn’t think there was a “standout” flyhalf in 2024 but thought Marcus Smith’s efforts in the November Tests could have seen him picked.

“It’s an interesting call, I think if you looked at what’s happened in the Autumn Nations, people would probably say Marcus Smith,” Parks told.

“He has been an absolute standout for what England done. England, in a lot of people’s eyes, have been disappointing regarding results, but he has been an absolute standout for what he’s done.

“To be honest, I don’t have much of an opinion of it because I don’t think there’s been a complete standout. On the back of what he’s done in the Autumn Nations, I would have gone with Marcus Smith.”

Whether McKenzie continues in the No.10 jersey next year could well come down to whether Richie Mo’unga, Robertson’s flyhalf during his reign with the Crusaders, is released from his Japanese deal one year early.

McKenzie’s selection wasn’t the only pick that raised eyebrows, with several people claiming French captain Antoine Dupont should not have been awarded the men’s sevens player of the year given he featured in just three World Series tournaments.

But there’s no doubting Dupont’s effect on the team, as he helped France snap a 19-year drought on the World Series stage as they won in Vancouver.

Dupont’s stardom only rose after helping lead France in the Paris Olympics.