Beauden Barrett wary of 'controlling those emotions' in All Blacks return

Beauden Barrett has had to be patient waiting for his All Blacks opportunity in 2026, and now that it has finally arrived, he’s cautious not to let the moment overcome him or pass him by.

New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie did select the 35-year-old in his first squad for the July Tests, but did not require Barrett’s services on the field, instead deciding to pick Ruben Love at No.10 and Damian McKenzie at fullback in all three games.

The opening two weeks of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour will, however, offer each of the 44-man All Blacks squad a chance to prove their worth, with Barrett getting the first crack at the No.10 shirt in a showdown with a Stormers team he hasn’t faced since South Africa pulled out of Super Rugby in 2019.

He’ll be tasked with steering an attack eager to play with speed and the skill set to match, with the new game plan echoing the one All Blacks teams of yesteryear have deployed to great success, according to Barrett.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity,” he told reporters in Cape Town, acknowledging his non-selections in July. “It’s been a good chance to work on my game and at the same time freshen up a little bit.”

With competition for minutes especially high in the expanded squad, and with all players in line for minutes over the coming three non-Test games, Barrett says he has to strike the right balance mentally to put his best foot forward.

“I know how excited I am. I’m conscious I don’t want to overdo it either; overplay. It’s about containing that and making good decisions.

“There’s been a few weeks between games for me, so there might be a tendency to rip in, but at the same time it’s about controlling those emotions, those temptations and just backing myself in the preparation.”

Fixture

Rugby Union Hybrid Friendlies

Stormers

10:00

7 Aug 26

New Zealand

All Stats and Data

Coach Rennie had complete faith in his veteran game-driver when explaining his selections for the Stormers battle.

“He’s smart, he’s played 140-odd games for this country, so he won’t try and overplay his hand,” the coach explained, drawing a coincidental parallel with his words. “His job is to implement and organise people around him. We’ve got a clear plan of how we want to play.

“He’s been training right throughout the time in New Zealand when he wasn’t playing, so he’s all over it, and we just want him to get out and drive the ship for us.”

Barrett will line up opposite a 20-year-old on senior debut in Yaqeen Ahmed, who has noted the veteran All Black as a childhood hero of his.

“I feel honoured that I was once looked up to by him,” Barrett said. “As All Blacks, we’re always trying to do our best to inspire kids across the globe, not just in New Zealand. It’s pretty cool that we have a chance to go head-to-head, and I’ll certainly make sure that I chat to him after the game and share a cold drink with him afterwards, because he’s certainly the future.”

Barrett has started 30 of his All Blacks games at fullback, but appears to be predominantly seen as a first five-eighth option by Rennie. Instead, the coach has turned to Test rookie Josh Moorby for the No.15 jersey this weekend, Moorby’s first international appearance in the position.

“He loves playing 15, it gives him a little bit more freedom,” Rennie said of Moorby. “It’s a chance for him to take control back there and organise the back three. All the other skill set things that he provides, we just want to see more of.

“He’s been impressive; he’s quite understated. His ability to do the obvious is a real point of difference; he knows when to run, knows when to pass and how to connect. He’s all over the park and we want to see the same thing from a 15 perspective. He’ll probably spend a little bit more time at first receiver, which we’re keen to see.

“He’s got a strong kicking game; he’s strong under the high ball, and we think he’ll get a bit of practice there on the weekend.”