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'We'll try and use it as fuel': Jordie Barrett says pain of World Cup final persists
By Ned Lester
Seven minutes remained in the Rugby World Cup final when Jordie Barrett launched a penalty attempt to take the lead from the Springboks. It skewed to the left and the All Blacks endured a one-point deficit for the final minutes of the match.
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That result was almost three months ago now, but for Barrett, the emotions are inevitably still raw.
The fullback turned second five-eighth, along with the rest of the players from the All Blacks’ World Cup squad, returned to his Super Rugby club this week after an extended summer break.
Upon returning to the Hurricanes, Barrett was asked by the media how he is recovering from the loss.
“Each day seems to be getting a little bit easier,” Barrett replied. “I’m not all the way there yet, but for the case of us boys, we’re just looking forward to getting back into training, getting in around some other fellas and back into our work.
“We’ve been training remotely for the summer, but it’s been a great break. I’m ready to rip in again.”
Barrett could be forgiven for playing with a chip on his shoulder in 2024, and admits he is expecting the pain to continue for some time yet.
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“It’ll probably linger even longer, but that’s just sport, we’ll get over it at some stage,” he continued. “That’s why we play the game, that’s why winning probably feels so good – because it’s so hard to win a lot of the time.
“We’ll try and use it as fuel to put into the ‘Canes season. We’ve had a couple of finals losses the last few years, there’s a lot of motivated boys in this facility that want to go one or two better as well.
“It’s a disciplined and highly motivated group at the moment.”
The star midfielder returns to a new coach at a Hurricanes club that will be dealing with the absence of World Player of the Year Ardie Savea as well as ‘Canes icon Dane Coles.
Having moved into the NZCIS facility after it officially opened in June 2023, the Wellington club have world-class tools at their disposal while building for the 2024 campaign.
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“It’s great, this new facility is unbelievable, there’s new things popping up each day.
“[We have] a fresh coach in Clark Laidlaw and hearing from the boys, he’s been outstanding.
“Good things to come.”
A second 5/8th turned fullback back to second 5/8th to be fair.
And yeah, missing that late penalty, similar to the one he landed v Ireland, must dig harder for him.
They all seem locked & loaded for 2024 though.