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Jordie Barrett's cheeky dig at his Japan-bound older brother

By Online Editors
Beauden and Jordie Barrett. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Newly recovered Jordie Barrett has had a cheeky dig at big brother Beauden after the Blues superstar signed a lucrative one-year deal with Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath next year.

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Beauden confirmed the news on Friday morning which will see him miss next year’s Super Rugby season to play for the Tokyo based club before returning to New Zealand for the 2021 international season to see out the rest of his contract with NZ Rugby until 2023.

When asked about his brother’s Japanese deal, Jordie said it wasn’t a surprise but joked about how the news left him in an awkward position.

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Long-time NZ rugby journalist Ross Karl is joined by two players each week to discuss the ins and outs of the great game in New Zealand.

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Long-time NZ rugby journalist Ross Karl is joined by two players each week to discuss the ins and outs of the great game in New Zealand.

“Wasn’t too much of a surprise to me,” he said. “We chat quite a bit. I just say good on him.

“Well played on his behalf. He’s enjoying playing golf in Queenstown while I have to front and do his media.

“He’s his own man. I guess we talk a little bit and it’s often un-footy related and he makes his own decisions.”

Jordie said he has no issues with player sabbaticals like the deals taken by Beauden and All Black teammate Brodie Retallick.

“I think it’s positive. They’re guys that spent eight or nine years plus playing in New Zealand rugby and plying their craft here and have done so much for New Zealand rugby in general.

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“So I don’t see any harm in them popping over for a few months and coming back. If they’re good enough to be picked, they’ll be picked. That’s just the way it is. So I say fair play.”

Beauden, whose reported $1.5m deal will make him one of the highest-paid players in the world, is currently having a short break with the Blues on a bye this weekend.

Jordie, on the other hand, is back in action for the Hurricanes against the Chiefs on Sunday, his first game of the revamped Super Rugby Aotearoa season after recovering from a shoulder injury.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s a different feeling preparing for a game at the end of the week. I’ve got a lot of excitement and the weather is good going back up to Hamilton so can’t complain.

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“The most frustrating thing was I trained all COVID and then come back and hurt my shoulder tackling a tackle bag. That was very frustrating. But we haven’t been too far away. I feel like our group is in a pretty good spot at the moment and we’re not far off.”

Jordie may also have a decision to make about his own future after signing a deal last year with NZ Rugby until 2022 with a clause that allows him to switch Super Rugby teams, which prompted some reports of a potential move to the Blues.

However, he says he’s currently focused on the Hurricanes and getting back to his best after recovering from his injury.

“That’s open. That’s always been open. That’s what was in my contract. But I’m not in any discussions at the moment.

“I’ve just been trying to rehab my shoulder and get back and play some footy. I’m super excited about that so just can’t wait to get up and play in Hamilton.”

Meanwhile, the Chiefs will be without All Black Anton Lienert-Brown who is ruled out of this weekend’s crucial clash with a mystery concussion probably picked up during their loss to the Crusaders.

“We’ve gone back and looked at it, and he just said he can’t remember in the game where he’s got a knock,” coach Warren Gatland said.

The Hurricanes and the Chiefs will both look to get their first win of the season at 3.35pm on Sunday in Hamilton.

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Trevor 15 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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