The night Beaudenism became a religion
Right now, one player more than ever symbolises the exciting brand of rugby that the All Blacks are known for. Beauden Barrett stands head and shoulders above all others in the first five position, but it hasn’t always been that way in his storied 61 test career.
The dawn of the latest Barrett era took many by surprise. It seems as if no established player has had such a rapid ‘second’ ascension and change of public perception as much as he’s had in the last year and a half.
It’s easy to forget that last June it was Aaron Cruden who was the front-runner to take the All Blacks 10 jersey forward to the next World Cup. Cruden, the man who had left the Hurricanes and gone to the Chiefs, opening the door for Barrett to play Super Rugby. Cruden, the regular starter when Carter was out injured, leaving Barrett’s first rise to public attention in a niche role: a ‘super-sub’ impact player.
For a while there it seemed as though Barrett might be the archetype replacement, destined to play the vast majority of his test career off the bench. It certainly appeared that way for the first few years – since his All Blacks debut in 2012 Barrett started just two of his first 21 tests.
However, that all changed after one crazy month in 2016.
Race for the throne
The 2015 Rugby World Cup was the end of an era for New Zealand rugby. The victory was a swansong for a number of generational players, including Dan Carter. He sailed off for a retirement pay-day in the France, leaving a three horse race for the 10 jersey.
Cruden was the short favourite to become ‘the guy’ despite missing World Cup selection, with Barrett and Lima Sopoaga well and truly in the picture as contenders. Cruden’s resume was still the pick of the bunch – he had taken the Chiefs franchise to back-to-back Super Rugby titles and had started 23 tests.
To start 2016, the Chiefs had found a two-headed monster in Aaron Cruden and Damian McKenzie that set Super Rugby alight. The calm, experienced Cruden was the perfect foil for the wild pinball machine play of McKenzie.
Although Cruden wore the 10 jersey, both players shared first receiver duties – freeing up the other to float around and pop-up where they desired. The Chiefs were scoring points by the bucket loads and led the competition heading into the June test series break. Naturally, Cruden’s form gave him the first shot at the All Blacks 10 jersey.
The night Beaudenism became a religion
Following the unconvincing 39-21 win over Wales in the first test in Auckland, the stage was set for something to happen. The All Blacks weren’t their usual dominant outfit. It didn’t seem like things were clicking and there was a certain uneasiness in the air around Kiwi fans.
The second test would change the future path of New Zealand rugby and can be pinpointed as the beginning of Barrett’s stranglehold on the first five position.
After 32 minutes, Cruden was forced from the field with a neck injury. A stalemate was unfolding – after 50 minutes at 10-all the All Blacks were struggling to put away Wales.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Barrett would be the spark, breaking two tackles on halfway, fending away the first defender and running through a weak arm tackle before sending Ben Smith down the right touchline untouched.
Three minutes later, attacking the Welsh line, Barrett cut back past Welsh centre Davies, fended another and went over to score in the midst of a third tackle.
Barrett’s five-minute cameo sparked a fury of All Blacks points, burying the Welsh 36-10 before a late comeback made the scoreline more respectable.
That night began the turning of the tide, building momentum towards Barrett surpassing Cruden in the pecking order. The next month of Super Rugby would confirm that.
The end of the drought
After the June test break the Chiefs, who were so dominant all year long, had a momentary lapse in form at the last hurdle in the regular season. This setting off a chain of events which would see them lose the New Zealand conference, which crucially gave Barrett’s Hurricanes home ground advantage for the 2016 playoffs.
Barrett would be instrumental in the 25-9 dismantling of the Chiefs in the home semi-final, setting up one try with a miraculous chip and chase and scoring an intercept. His out-of-hand kicking in wet conditions in the final led the Hurricanes to their first ever Super Rugby title, with Barrett scoring the decisive and only second-half try against the Lions.
Barrett’s stocks were at an all-time high, leading to the ‘easy decision’ by Steve Hansen to start Barrett over Cruden in the first Bledisloe test in Sydney. Barrett rewarded Hansen’s decision with a man-of-the-match performance.
Barrett-mania would go into overdrive after a Rugby Championship in which his hot form continued – seven try assists, four tries, the most run metres and most defenders beaten. A successful end of year tour followed before the cherry on top – World Rugby naming Barrett the world’s best player in 2016.
In one season Barrett won the Super Rugby title, Bledisloe Cup, The Rugby Championship and World Player of the Year – mirroring the feats of Dan Carter’s 2005 season.
Barrett was 25-years-old and had made the quantum leap to world’s best player – all in a six-month stretch.
Fork in the road
Barrett announced mid-way through the 2016 Rugby Championship he had re-signed with the Hurricanes and NZR on a three-year deal extending his stay until 2019.
Shortly after, Cruden announced in January of 2017 he had signed a record three-year deal with Montpellier. A dramatic, sharp and irreversible change of paths was complete – Cruden’s move offshore would end any chance of surpassing Barrett again.
It seems it can all be traced back to the night where Cruden’s injury against Wales as a turning point. If that never happened, is Barrett starting now? If Cruden won his third title with the Chiefs, does he retain his starting spot?
It was this series of improbable coincidences that aligned for Barrett’s opportunity to appear so quickly, and he seized it with both hands. While it’s true that Cruden opened the door for Barrett, it’s equally so that Barrett shut the door on Cruden behind him.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments