'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.
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.
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.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments