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Scott Barrett names the players he'd least like to meet at a ruck

Ethan Blackadder of the All Blacks (C) looks on during the International Test Match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Fiji at Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

New All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has played against and alongside some all-time greats of the game, but he says two players in particular provide a physical edge around the breakdown.

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Barrett succeeded Sam Cane as All Blacks captain in 2024 after breaking up the iconic pairing of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick in the second row ahead of last year’s Rugby World Cup.

The seven-time Super Rugby champion remembers Retallick’s impact on the game well, having felt the full force of the All Black centurion’s weight many a time on the pitch.

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    The 30-year-old was asked who he’d least like to see at a ruck during a game and Retallick’s name was the first to come to mind.

    “I guess locally, or historically, it would be Brodie Retallick,” Barrett laughed on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

    “He’d just zero in on you. If you’re over the ball, that’s how he’s made his mark on the game; for some of his cleanouts. Especially earlier on in his career when you could tuck a shoulder a bit more. He’s very physical around the breakdown.

    “Probably in the current team, Ethan Blackadder. At the training park, he’s pretty heavy.

    “Probably with those two, if you’re committing to getting over the ball, you’re making sure you’re locking it down otherwise you’re getting spat out the back.”

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    The Crusaders captain has a longstanding relationship with new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and was the favourite to land the captaincy for this next era.

    Barrett contributed heavily to the decision to appoint his brother, Jordie, and World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea as vice-captains for the team.

    The trio are arguably the only guaranteed starters for the All Blacks, who begin their season this weekend against England in Dunedin.

    With Barrett and Scott “Razor” Robertson at the helm, Kiwi hopes are high for what the team can achieve. Barrett outlined how the leadership group will operate.

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    “With Razor, I think he drives a lot of the philosophy, the culture stuff within the group and how you operate. Within that, you have key relationships with your coaches who drive different areas of the game,” he said.

    “I guess your role as captain is to trust the guys in their key positions, be it the players, your game drivers, your nines, 10s, your 15s, trust them to be able to influence on the ground, in the training park with their strategy alongside the coaches.

    “I guess that’s the beauty of the All Blacks, you’re surrounded by a group of talented guys, not just the players but coaches. Guys striving to be experts.”

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    Comments

    10 Comments
    B
    B.J. Spratt 273 days ago

    I would like to thank England for providing the All Blacks with a couple of warm up games before we play “The World Champions” South Africa.

    Mind you South Africa’s warm up games will be a bit harder.

    D
    David 273 days ago

    This Ethan Blackadder must be some player? The English will have no IP on him as he hasn't been sighted for ages. A cunning plan by Baldrick Ryan.

    G
    Graham 273 days ago

    Great interview with Scott Barrett. What he says about Ethan Blackadder is so right. That is why he should be in the team named tomorrow.

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    J
    JW 4 minutes ago
    Razor has an about turn on All Blacks eligibility rules

    Yep, another problem!


    I think he would have, in the instance I mentioned, which wasn’t changing anything other than correctly applying todays eligibility quidelines. Which is an arbitrary construct, as the deal likely would have played out completely differently, but I just ‘allowed’ him to have 1 year sabbatically for his ‘loyalty’, rather than having some arbitrary number like 70 caps required.


    So if Richie had a 3 year deal, and the first year he was allowed to use him still, I don’t think he’d really not transition to Dmac being his main 10, as he’s obviously the only one he can use for the following two years, therefore likely his only real option for the WC (very hard for Richie to overtake him in such a short time). Richie would purely be a security net in a situation like I proposition where there are only small changes to the eligibility.


    The system is not working well enough though, as we don’t have the Rugby Championship or World Cup trophies, do we? Well on that last question, that’s all I’m really saying but I would not believe a word this author says, so it’s entirely a ‘what if’ discussion, but if the author is right and now they are actually going to be more flexible, I think that’s great yeah. Ultimately thought I think those two players were an anomaly signing their contracts and futures up so far ahead, especially of when they were performing. Both jumped at the opportunity of good contracts when their All Black prospects weren’t looking that bright.

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