Beauden Barrett: 'This time every year I say I want to play 10'

Beauden Barrett wants to play first five-eighth. That’s the clear message he sent in an interview on Wednesday after a Rugby World Cup where he featured entirely at fullback.

Barrett has been suiting up at 10 for Toyota Verblitz in Japan, who currently sit third in Conference B with three wins and three losses.

That’s the All Black centurion’s position of choice, and where he hopes to play upon his return to New Zealand.

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Having signed a long-term deal to return home and play for the Blues from the conclusion of the current Japan season until 2027, Barrett made his intentions and priorities crystal clear, wanting to continue his All Blacks journey under new head coach Scott Robertson.

He says the playmaker position has always been where he wants to be, but accepts any role he can represent the All Blacks in.

“This time every year I say I want to play 10,” Barrett told The Platform. “That’s what the coaches also agree on and you get to the time when it comes to selection and somehow I slip back to 15, and I accept that.

“I want to be playing for the All Blacks, I want to be playing first five-eighth. But if it means I’m playing first five-eight, fullback, coming off the bench, starting, I just want to be contributing to the All Blacks.”

While playing against storied club rival Richie Mo’unga in the recent round of League One action, Barrett left the field just 16 minutes into the game with an injury. He confirmed Wednesday that he is set for a sideline spell of 4-5 weeks.

Barrett and Mo’unga’s rivalry has been contentious for much of the past seven years, since Mo’unga started pushing for the All Blacks No. 10 jersey through his winning form with the Crusaders.

It was Mo’unga who won the battle for the 2019 Rugby World Cup honours at 10 and again in 2023, both times pushing Barrett to fullback.

Between the tournaments, the pair had each featured in the famous jersey at various points, neither able to lock down the job conclusively.

That was until Joe Schmidt joined the coaching setup after the Ireland series loss in 2022, when Mo’unga was promoted to the starting unit and produced a superb outing against the Springboks.

Now, with Mo’unga ineligible for All Blacks duties, Barrett’s stiffest competition will come from Damian McKenzie.

“You’ve got to embrace it,” McKenzie said of the challenge of selection, when queried by media at the All Blacks’ first camp of the year on January 9. “There’s obviously opportunity there this year. For me, I’ve always been a person that takes it week by week but you’ve got to take care of your performance, you’ve got to prepare well.

“It’s clear and obvious there’s an opportunity there in the first five position and that’s the position I want to be playing and that’s where I want to be, being able to lead this team.

“I know there’s a lot of work to be done throughout the year before that first team gets named, so I’m really excited for that opportunity, can’t wait to rip in with the Chiefs and then hopefully this team later in the year.”

Barrett, along with fellow 2023 Rugby World Cup stars Ardie Savea and Sam Cane, will be eligible for All Blacks duties this year thanks to clauses in their New Zealand Rugby contracts.