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'Beauden and I have got a really good combination': Blues playmaker Otere Black responds to 'liability' claims of Barrett
Otere Black’s playmaking partnership with Beauden Barrett may have failed to fire for the Blues against the Crusaders on Saturday, but that hasn’t dampened the first-five’s outlook on his backline dynamic with the All Blacks star.
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Black and Barrett started at No. 10 and No. 15, respectively, in their side’s 26-15 defeat to the reigning Super Rugby champions in Christchurch last weekend.
Neither player was able to help keep the Blues’ unbeaten status in Super Rugby Aotearoa intact, with Barrett in particular copping plenty of flak for his lack of contribution from the backfield.
Making his name as a first-five since his professional debut at the beginning of last decade, the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year has played exclusively at fullback for the Blues and All Blacks since last July.
The positional switch came as the All Blacks coaching group implemented a dual-playmaking axis between Barrett and Richie Mo’unga that ultimately failed to deliver New Zealand a third consecutive World Cup crown last year.
Nevertheless, the Blues have persisted in selecting Barrett in the No. 15 jersey since his debut for the club last month to accomodate for the in-form Black.
The move helped pave the way for a three-match winning run to open their Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign, but the loss to the Crusaders – inspired by Mo’unga at first-five – has drawn criticism from various pundits.
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Leading UK writer and former British and Irish Lions first-five Stuart Barnes was among those, labelling the decision to play Barrett at fullback as a “liability”.
“New Zealand rugby is in danger of turning one of the most original talents in the history of the sort into a liability,” he wrote for The Times, saying that Barrett’s “most significant contribution [a crucial kick out on the full] played a part in his team’s demise.”
Speaking to Stuff on Tuesday, though, Black hit back at those critics, stating that his partnership with Barrett is one that can work despite Saturday’s hiccup.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1282890346070863873
“Beauden and I have got a really good combination going,” Black said.
“Just because it was a bit quiet on the weekend, doesn’t mean we have to change a few things.
“People were saying good things about him not that long ago. So we’re going to keep working hard and keep finding areas in our game to put the boys in better areas to attack from.
“It was a good learning for Beauden and I, but for the team as well.”
Whether or not Black will maintain his place in the Blues’ starting lineup for this weekend’s bout with the Hurricanes in Wellington remains to be seen, but the Maori All Blacks representative said he’s willing to make way for Barrett at No. 10 if it is in the team’s best interests.
“I feel like I’m playing some pretty good footy at the moment. But it’s not always down to that, it’s what has got to be the best for the team,” he said.
“That’s all out of my control, it’s up to me to perform well, week in, week out. Whatever is best for the team, I’ll do that.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments