Beauden Barrett names his Six Nations favourites

Beauden Barrett and his fellow All Blacks have rejoined their respective Super Rugby Pacific clubs ahead of preseason games kicking off this weekend. The 33-year-old has now had some time to reflect on the 2024 international season.

Barrett bypassed Super Rugby last year in favour of a sabbatical in Japan and had to bridge the gap between playing for club and country, but that didn’t stop him from hitting the ground running for the All Blacks.

The veteran playmaker had game-changing influence in both of the July series Tests against England before earning the starting No. 10 jersey on the backend of The Rugby Championship.

Antoine Dupont previews the Six Nations

Antoine Dupont previews the Six Nations

He did however suffer a concussion against England to begin the Autumn Nations Series, ruling him out of the following Test against fierce rivals, Ireland.

Damian McKenzie took his chance and led the Kiwis to a statement win in Dublin, defeating the back-to-back Six Nations winners in their own fortress. Barrett returned in the lone loss of the Northern Tour to France the following week, a result that has left the Test centurion with high praise for the Antoine Dupont-led outfit.

“During that series, I thought we got Ireland at the right time,” Barrett told media in Auckland. “They were coming off a break, it was a prime time to hit them early in their season. They’ll be different come Six Nations.

“I still think England, Ireland and France, it’s between one of those teams. It’s theirs to win. France go really deep and I’d probably have them in as favourites at this stage, but we’re not allowed to say that.

“But I know the competition up there is really strong. Italy are respected and Scotland are always one to watch out for. Wales have got their backs against the wall.

“But for me, it’s probably France at this stage.”

Barrett’s brother and fellow All Black Jordie may find himself in the unlikely position of cheering Ireland on as his Leinster teammates line up across the starting XV for the defending champs.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed a winning start to his one-year stint with the European heavyweights, with Leinster undefeated in both the URC and Champions Cup.

“He’s been playing really well, I’ve been enjoying that and he has been too,” Beauden said. “He’s now on a two or three-week break which he’ll need and is looking forward to, but what a fantastic experience for him so far.

“I know that the Irish have been really enjoying his contribution on and off the field. I’m certainly getting a bit of FOMO seeing those Snapchats of Guinness pints, some of the golf courses he’s playing, but most importantly he’s playing really good footy.”

Jordie is exploiting the same eligibility caveat his brother enjoyed last season, with New Zealand Rugby allowing sabbaticals in order to keep their top talent attached to the local system.

While it’s kept much of the core All Blacks in New Zealand, one player who bucked that trend in favour of a long-term big-money contract overseas is Richie Mo’unga.

The playmaker started at 10 for the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup but had already committed his future to Japan Rugby League One outfit Toshiba Brave Lupus, making him ineligible for All Blacks selection from 2024 through until 2026.

Given the 30-year-old was the man standing between Barrett and his desired black No. 10 jersey in recent seasons, last week’s news that New Zealand Rugby were unable to bring Mo’unga home early despite his interest in doing so was as consequential for Barrett as anyone else.

The 2015 World Cup winner was, however, unaware and seemingly unfazed by the news when it was presented to him.

“Well, it’s Super Rugby time so we’re pretty keen to get into that. I have a good relationship with Razor now, and Scott Hansen. All that I can focus on now is just playing well for the Blues and I’m sure Richie’s going to be back in a couple of years and that’ll be great for New Zealand Rugby.”

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Barrett wasn’t interested in sharing his views on the eligibility criteria.

“I’m not really in a position to comment. I’m just not across it well enough. And you can open a huge can of worms around that. I think we’ve just got to back what New Zealand Rugby are going with otherwise it sets a bad precedent for the next generation.

“It’s different for South Africa, they’ve got their reasons why but for the time being New Zealand Rugby have showed a little bit of backbone around it.”

Given All Blacks coach Scott Robertson’s remarkable success with Mo’unga at the Crusaders, it was expected the coach would chase his star playmaker, something some pundits have suggested wouldn’t sit well with the current crop of All Blacks playmakers.

With a full season of connecting with ‘Razor’ under his belt, Barrett was asked if he feels on the same page as the coach.

“I think one of his beauties and strengths is you never really know what he’s thinking. It’s one of his superpowers, so to answer that question, no.

“But, certainly, the relationship, it’s good. We talk often and that’s what you want. You want to have honest conversations with the head coach. And it’s more with Scott Hansen and Jason Holland around the rugby side of things.”