'He's got a long way to go': How Barrett compares to NZ's top No 10s
Beauden Barrett became just the 11th player to notch up 100 tests for the All Blacks over the weekend, scoring two intercept tries in his side’s 55-17 win over Wales in Cardiff.
He also became just the second flyhalf to achieve the feat, after Dan Carter earned his 100th cap against England in 2013.
The exceptional achievement has unsurprisingly reignited the debate about New Zealand’s top No 10s of all time, with the likes of Carlos Spencer, Andrew Mehrtens, Grant Fox and even Aaron Cruden all regularly mentioned as contenders for the high-ranking spots.
Carter, with the most caps and most points scored of any of the NZ pivots, is widely considered the best to have donned the jersey thanks to the perfect combination of X-factor and cool-headedness that he brought to the All Blacks.
Others tend to lean one way or the other, with Spencer one of the game’s greatest entertainers of all time, and Fox perhaps the most accurate kicker of the lot.
Where Barrett ranks is certainly up for debate, but his 100 caps and back-to-back World Rugby Player of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017 certainly push him near the top of the queue.
For two Super Rugby centurions, however, it’s still too early to say, given that Barrett has plenty left to give on the rugby field.
“I think he’s right in the mix and he’s still got time to go,” former Blues hooker James Parsons said on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“When I texted him during the week to wish him well for his 100th, I said ‘You’ve dedicated yourself to your craft and you’ll be remembered as a great All Blacks for that’. He’s made a lot of choices along the way to make him the very best player in the world a number of times and continues to be at that high level.
“And he’s just not done. It’s a hard conversation to have at the moment because I think there’s still chapters to the story, just like there was for DC and more excitement and fuel for this debate.”
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Bryn Hall, who toured with the All Blacks in 2018, agreed that Barrett ranks highly on any all-time lists, but that it was a debate that couldn’t be settled until the 30-year-old ultimately hangs up his boots.
“He’s got a long way to go,” Hall said. “He’s been there so long, considering he’s played 100 test matches. But Jip’s right, he’s right up there.
“You’ve got Dan Carter, who we don’t need to talk about, the achievements that he’s had, arguably he’s the greatest rugby player that’s ever played in the world. What Beaudy has done, he’s a two-time player of the year. Those are achievements that are done at a pretty high, world-class set-up, so the fact that he’s done that twice – when he was playing 10 as well – you’ve got to add that into the discussion.
“And for the fact of longevity. Any time you can play 100 test matches, whether it be for a time at 15, coming off the bench, being able to play 100 test matches and that consistency to be in that All Blacks group for a long period of time, that adds to it as well.”
While the debate of where Barrett falls on the historical overall rankings is an interesting one, it’s less relevant than the current ongoing conversation surrounding who’s the better fit for the No 10 jersey in the current All Blacks set-up, with Barrett and Richie Mo’unga seemingly on level pegging.
As such, Hall is hopeful that the two will continue to bring out the best of each other.
“I think the best is still to come and we’re going to continue to have these discussions of him and Richie moving forward but I think having Richie there to be able to have the competition aspect, it’s going to keep bringing the best out of Beaudy.
“If we can get test matches like we do on the weekend, and you’ve got Richie able to be in behind him to try and bring the best out of Beaudy and it goes vice-versa both ways, it’s only going to help New Zealand Rugby and for our bid to win a World Cup in a couple of years time.”
While Carter called time on his test career after helping the All Blacks to their third World Cup win in 2015, he continued to play rugby to the highest level until 2020 – when he was 38-year-old. As such, even if Barrett does finish up playing test rugby following the 2023 World Cup, it could be a long time before the All Blacks pivot finishes up his professional career.
As such, the debate is set to rage on for many years to come.
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments