Beauden Barrett is ready to 'own' this World Cup
Beauden Barrett has been backed to boss New Zealand’s latest bid for World Cup history in Japan. Barrett switched from flyhalf to full-back for the All Blacks‘ 23-13 victory over South Africa in Yokohama, a win that tees up the Kiwis to top Pool B.
The 28-year-old offers New Zealand an extra playmaking dimension from the depth of the backline, with Richie Mo’unga at 10 and the versatile Ryan Crotty at 12. Barrett’s sheer pace and controlling guile helped steer New Zealand home, leaving assistant coach Ian Foster to wax lyrical on the accomplished Blues star.
Back in 2015, Barrett played second fiddle to Dan Carter, stepping off the bench in the big games. This time around he can be the main attraction – and Foster believes he can thrive amid top billing and underpin New Zealand’s drive for a record third-straight World Cup crown.
Asked if he thinks Barrett is ready to own this World Cup, Foster replied: “Yes I do. He’s been building it for a while. He’s a key part of our strategy group, the way he prepares.
“I know how focused he is on playing well, but there are a few others like that too. He is helping Richie grow into the position he is in too. He’s a part of encouraging and giving them confidence too.”
(Continue reading below…)
George Bridge and Scott Barrett scored the tries that ultimately saw New Zealand home, in a match where Springboks speed king wing Cheslin Kolbe dazzled throughout a stellar second-half.
All Blacks boss Steve Hansen admitted his side had to toil hard before finding their rhythm and he insisted South Africa can still go on to win the competition. No side has ever lost a pool match and progressed to become champions, but Hansen believes records only exist to be expunged.
“We’re one for one, so that’s pretty good,” said Hansen. “We won, didn’t we? So you’ve got to be happy with that. Were we perfect? No, but you’re never going to be at this stage of the tournament.
Rassie Erasmus is taking South Africa's pool loss to New Zealand on the chin https://t.co/xU5oPdjlCO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2019
“That was the interesting thing about this game right from the get-go. We’ve come out on top of it and very happy that we did but there’s plenty of stuff we can work on. It was really hard for us early in the game in the scrum.
“The boys adjusted through the game and got more fluid. But it’s always going to be a titanic struggle. You can’t strike if you don’t get TQB – which is top-quality ball – at the set-piece.”
Asked if South Africa can still win the tournament, Hansen added: “I talked about this the other day. For us to win the tournament we have got to win every game.
The jury is in – how the All Blacks players rated in their World Cup opener win over the Springboks https://t.co/WbdmoXNeMD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2019
“For South Africa win the tournament they have got to win every game and we have got to do the same – and nothing has changed in that respect after tonight.
“History is a great thing but it’s there to be broken. Their mindset from now is that every game’s a final, and it’s the same for us. So yes, they can do it.”
– Press Association
WATCH: The new RugbyPass documentary, Tonga: Road To Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
A Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
103 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
103 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
103 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
103 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
103 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
103 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
103 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
103 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
103 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to comments