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Beauden Barrett suggests nothing is set in stone for Rugby Championship - including his participation

By Online Editors
New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett

All Blacks ace and expectant father Beauden Barrett is taking a wait and see approach to his availability in the Rugby Championship later this year saying there’s “a lot of water to go under the bridge”.

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His fellow test back Richie Mo’unga has already hit out at a suggestion from one media outlet that some All Blacks were considering pulling out of this year’s Rugby Championship for family reasons.

Barrett was interviewed on Gold AM’s Country Sport Breakfast and said that he thought “journos are getting a bit excited – have too much time to think of what ifs and all that sort of thing”.

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But he wasn’t definitive about his availability either, only saying that Taranaki’s Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury on Saturday “could be my last game for a couple of weeks.”

“Richie addressed it yesterday, it’s all speculation,” he said.

“(Barrett’s wife) Hannah and I haven’t spoken to any media, you’re the first I’ve spoken to about this.

“We don’t have much in front of us, in facts and details. It’s hard to make a decision.

“As professional rugby players we’re required to turn up and perform – it’s not every day you get to pull on the black jersey. It’s not something you take lightly, that decision.

“This thing is changing every day, it is not even confirmed that South Africa and Argentina will come over. There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge.”

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Barrett said he was excited about the prospect of playing in the afternoon Bledisloe Cup games in New Zealand.

“A big tick all round,” said Barrett.

The initial media report suggested that TJ Perenara and Sevu Reece could also be in doubt.

The partners of Mo’unga and Perenara have recently given birth while Reece – like Barrett – is an expectant father.

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Mo’unga described the report as “laughable”.

“When speculation comes out like that it can be harmful and sad for family members during these uncertain times,” he said.

“I’m sure players with newborn babies, soon-to-be-fathers will have conversations and make those decisions in their own time with (All Blacks) coach Ian Foster and the management.”

The report said some All Blacks told New Zealand Rugby they don’t want to leave their families for up to 10 weeks for the Rugby Championship in Australia, which could include spending Christmas in quarantine.

Foster said discussions were being held with players and NZR was “trying to be responsible employers”.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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