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'I look forward to this game every year': Jordie Barrett teams up with All Blacks stars ahead of annual cricket crossover match
Every offseason Jordie Barrett turns to his second sporting love, swapping boots for bat and ball to rekindle his cricketing passion.
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Before he became the prodigiously talented All Blacks and Hurricanes outside back, Barrett hit the crease as a brisk new-ball bowler and handy lower order batsman. He captained Central Districts under-19s, played alongside Black Caps Will Young and Tom Bruce in Taranaki’s Hawke Cup side and was on standby for the New Zealand under-19 World Cup team.
“I was still playing cricket two years out of school – just before I made NZ under-20s,” Barrett recalls from his family’s Taranaki farm.
Given that pedigree, and the many backyard battles he shared with his elder brothers, it’s no surprise Barrett has been a standout in the Team Rugby versus Team Cricket Black Clash which holds its third, deciding edition at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Friday evening.
Barrett took 2-53 and hit 42 not out to propel Team Rugby to their five wicket upset win in the maiden Black Clash two years ago in Christchurch.
Last year in Napier, Barrett’s yorker stunned Stephen Fleming during an impressive four over spell that also claimed Black Caps batting coach Luke Ronchi to finish with 2-22, but it wasn’t enough to stop Team Cricket squaring the ledger with a two run win that went down to the final ball.
Despite enjoying his break, before rejoining the Hurricanes, Barrett is not about to rely on talent alone – instead linking with former Taranaki and Central Districts coach Debu Banik.
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“I look forward to this game every year and try and put in a bit of work over the summer by having a few net sessions with my old Taranaki coach,” Barrett says.
“Every summer, regardless of whether this game was on I’d still go and hit balls with him. It’s a way of staying fit for me and another little challenge outside footy. There’s a few things that correlate with each other. He hits me a few high ball catches and still thinks that goes a long way to me catching bombs.”
In the past two weeks Barrett managed two 40 over second-grade hit outs with his local club side Pihama. While 82 against the Boys’ High second XI was the individual highlight, Barrett savoured winning the local “Ashes” – a traditional annual fixture – against Orua.
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens hardly let the ink on his final high school exam dry before his professional rugby career took off, but it could have taken a drastically different turn had an NRL club had its way.https://t.co/JpUBE22EOn
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 19, 2021
“It was the first time I got to play in the Ashes and we got a win so that was bloody good.
“I’ve played a couple of club games to try get my body up to scratch so I don’t hurt myself and hit a few balls to get my eye in a wee bit.
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“You certainly don’t want to go in cold when I know how many eye-balls are going to be on the TV. Last time we were at Hagley it was almost sold out so you don’t want to set yourself up to fail or embarrassment.
“There’s a wee uni contingent turning up. No doubt they’ll be there with bells on in a late sunny afternoon in Christchurch. It’ll be my first time under lights there.
“Cricket is one of those games you can prepare as much as you want and still get a good ball and get out early.”
Barrett hopes Kaylum Boshier, the former New Zealand under-19 cricket captain turned Taranaki and Chiefs flanker, can notch a half century and nominates Crusaders fullback Will Jordan as a dark horse for Team Rugby.
Westlake’s Jock McKenzie is another dual talent, having represented NZ under 19s in cricket and the NZ Maori under 18 rugby side in the same week two years ago.
“It’s Will Jordan’s first time playing and he was sharp at Christchurch Boys’ and it’s good to have Kaylum back he was a gun a couple of years ago and still got it.”
As for the opposition, a former Black Caps all-rounder could be targeted.
“They’ve got a few ring-ins – they know how important it is for them to win this one.
“Reading their team list I’m not sure where I can find too many weaknesses when you look at Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills… maybe Scott Styris.”
TEAM RUGBY
Sir Graham Henry (Coach)
Israel Dagg
Ofisa Tonu’u
Jason Spice
Richie McCaw
Marc Ellis
Kaylum Boshier
Brad Weber
Jordie Barrett
Jock McKenzie
Will Jordon
Andy Ellis
WILDCARD – Mathew Sinclair
Scott Robertson (Team Manager)
TEAM CRICKET
Stephen Fleming (Capt & Coach)
Grant Elliott
Dan Vettori
Jacob Oram
Nathan McCullum
Hamish Marshall
Kyle Mills
Peter Fulton
Craig McMillan
Adam Parore
Scott Styris
WILDCARD – Jordan Watson
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments