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Scott and Jordie Barrett set for long-awaited Taranaki debuts as Bulls name experienced squad
The Barrett brothers, Beauden, Scott and Jordie, are arguably three of the greatest ever rugby exports out of Taranaki. Finally, after an exceptionally long wait, the youngest two brothers will now have the opportunity to lace up their boots for their home province in the Mitre 10 Cup.
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Scott and Jordie both started their provincial careers with Canterbury, having moved south at the end of high school to attend Lincoln University. The pair both signed with Taranaki from 2017 but, with national representatives rarely granted opportunities to play in New Zealand’s provincial competition, neither has been sighted in the amber and black jersey as yet.
That’s set to change this year, with All Blacks to be available for their local teams for at least a couple of matches during the early stages of the Mitre 10 Cup.
“The other day, I was actually sitting there thinking about the team [Taranaki] would have and playing with my two brothers… So that’d be pretty cool, I reckon,” Jordie told RugbyPass earlier this year.
“Last year I think there was a period where I didn’t play a game for six weeks. That was when I was in the ABs environment and, obviously, you can’t argue with their planning and they’ve got their way of thinking.
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“At the time, Mitre 10 Cup was going on and you just want to be back with your province and playing some footy. So, any opportunity anyone gets to play for their province, they love it. I’d certanly snap at the opportunity to play for Taranaki this year.”
Jordie’s wish has evidently been granted and with he and Scott set to earn their Taranaki debuts – and Beauden likely to play his first game for the Bulls since 2012 – the 2014 champions will have plenty of experience in their squad for the season ahead.
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While no player named in Willie Rickards’ team has played a half-century of matches for Taranaki, there’s a strong Super Rugby presence in the squad, with 17 players turning out for the five franchises across the country over the past year.
That includes Ben May, who’s signed with Taranaki for the first time, having previously represented Tasman, Waikato, Wellington and Hawke’s Bay. May, sitting on over 90 provincial and 120 Super Rugby caps, will complement Ricky Riccitelli and Bradley Slater’s experience in the front row, with a raft of young props also selected – as well as All Blacks tourist Reuben O’Neill and Samoan representative Donald Brighouse.
Three of the out-and-out locks in the squad have recently been selected for the New Zealand Under 20s side, including Tupou Vaa’i, who is set to start for the North Island side in this weekend’s North v South exhibition. Vaa’i could be partnered with fellow Chief Mitch Brown for the season but keep an eye out for young gun Josh Lord. Scott Barrett is still sidelined with a foot injury and in a worst-case scenario, could miss the entire season. If he does recover in time for the international matches, however, All Blacks coach Ian Foster would likely use the Mitre 10 Cup to get the big man up to speed.
The loose forwards are again a position of strength for Taranaki. The Chiefs trio of Brown, Lachlan Boshier and Pita Gus Sowakula will be expected to get through a mountain of work but Tom Florence, who earned a solitary cap for the Highlanders this season, and Kaylum Boshier (Lachlan’s younger brother) have both impressed through the age-grades.
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With Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi now with Bay of Plenty, Lisati Milo-Harris will compete with the experienced Kylem O’Donnell for the starting halfback role.
Re-signing with @HurricanesRugby was an easy decision for Jordie Barrett but the original move north from Canterbury took some guts.
The @AllBlacks utility spoke to @TomVinicombe about why he rebuked Scott Robertson. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #AllBlackshttps://t.co/7dQvggYiwb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 10, 2020
Daniel Waite is the sole fulltime first-five named in the team – but Rickards could opt to start a number of players in that role, including either of the two Barretts, Jayson Potroz or Stephen Perofeta, once he’s fit again.
Further out, Taranaki stalwarts such as Codey Rei, Sean Wainui and Teihorangi Walden will be shuffled throughout the backline while Kini Naholo will provide some power and pace on the wing, though he is currently recovering from surgey.
Young Jacob Kneepkens, who played in last year’s NZ secondary schools team, is another outside back that could shine this season, with a bit of support from the experienced heads in the squad.
Taranaki play a pre-season match against Waikato this Friday but kick their regular season off against Bay of Plenty on Sunday 13 September.
Taranaki squad:
Hookers: Mills Sanerivi, Ricky Riccitelli, Bradley Slater
Props: Ben May, Donald Brighouse, Chris Gawler, Reuben O’Neill, Jared Proffit
Locks: Scott Barrett, Jack Jordan, Fin Hoeata, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Lachlan Boshier, Kaylum Boshier, Mitch Brown, Johnny Faletagoa’i, Tom Florence, Pita Gus Sowakula
Halfbacks: Warwick Lahmert, Lisati Milo-Harris, Kylem O’Donnell
First fives: Beauden Barrett, Daniel Waite, Stephen Perofeta
Centres: Lukas Halls, Teihorangi Walden, Sean Wainui, Jacob Kneepkens, Lewis Ormond
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Brayton Northcott-Hill, Kini Naholo, Jayson Potroz, Cody Rei
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
2 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments