'Damaging' Jordie Barrett move only helps All Blacks- ex-Ireland wing
Jordie Barrett’s blockbuster move to Leinster at the end of the year has been questioned by former winger Luke Fitzgerald, who believes it will be damaging for both the province and Ireland.
The All Blacks centre will make the move to Dublin at the end of 2024 on a short-term sabbatical before returning to New Zealand.
While this is one of the most hotly anticipated moves of the year, the former Ireland and Leinster wing Fitzgerald has his reservations.
The 34-cap international said on the Irish Independent’s ‘The Left Wing’ podcast soon after the move was made that he is looking forward to watching Barrett play for Leinster, but feels it may curtail the progress of other players in the squad, which ultimately damages Leinster and Ireland.
What’s more, Fitzgerald said the move will improve Barrett’s game due to the system in Ireland, which in turn will help the All Blacks. He used the situation with Leinster-bound Munster lock RG Snyman as an example of how South Africa have benefited immensely from his time in Ireland.
Given what this move offers to Barrett, Fitzgerald understands why the player has made this decision, but does think there will be ramifications.
“It’s not really Leinster’s responsibility to make sure that all the other provinces are successful. That’s up to those provinces to go ahead and do that,” he said.
“But at the moment I just really don’t like the shape of this. Nothing against Jordie Barrett- a quality player, seems like a cool bloke, hard worker, he’s in great shape, he’ll definitely bring on Leinster as an outfit and help them compete for European gold again.
“But I just wonder like where does he go? So you’ve got [Robbie] Henshaw and [Garry] Ringrose in the centres, and I’ve got [Hugo] Keenan in there, which is where he’ll probably be playing most of his rugby. Would you start him ahead of any of those guys? I certainly wouldn’t, I think that would be damaging for Ireland and I think probably for Leinster as well. They’re all local Irish guys, I want to go see those guys to be honest with you as much as I’d like to see Jordie Barrett play.
“Then we get to the wings. So you’ve got James Lowe who’s obviously a project but he’s Irish now. On the other wing you’ve got Larmour, who’s starting to play some great rugby, Jimmy O’Brien coming back in, and let’s throw into the mix now, you’ve got [Ciaran] Frawley who would be sitting on the bench if you don’t start him, and then you’ve got [Jamie] Osborne who’s likely going to be sitting on the bench as well.
“So do you curtail his progress? So I don’t know where this one makes sense either. It’s very exciting that he’s coming, I can’t wait to watch him, but I just don’t think it makes any sense for a variety of reasons. That’s not having to go with him. I’m delighted he’s coming over.
“I know why he’s coming, I think Leinster would be perfect for him because you’re taking a risk going over to places like Japan because the quality rugby is just not the same- very, very different. He’ll come back I think a better player.
“The Irish system does look after its players. You look at Snyman, they’ve done a great job with him for South Africa. He’s barely played any rugby here and he comes back in great condition because the rehab facilities and all that kind of stuff is really, really good and the time management’s really good.
“So he goes back a better player from this experience and he’ll have a few extra quid in his pocket, and possibly a medal in his pocket.
“So it’s a great move for him. It’s good for Leinster in some ways, but in other ways and I think I’m more leaning this way, I don’t like it for Leinster either. I think the homegrown talent that they have, I really feel it might curtail some of these things.”
Comments on RugbyPass
This game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
7 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
7 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
5 Go to comments