Scott Barrett responds to former All Blacks' criticism of 2025 form

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has come under the microscope of pundits in recent weeks for what they see as an underwhelming season to date.

Barrett’s Crusaders are enjoying a return to competitive form in 2025, but the lock is seen as having a quieter year in comparison with the recent campaigns that contributed to him breaking up the iconic second-row partnership of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick in the All Blacks.

The 31-year-old relinquished his captaincy of the side this season as he manages his new national team responsibilities, leaving successor David Havili as the face of the improved campaign.

Barrett led the Crusaders to several titles when captain, proving to be one of the most relentless defensive talents in the global game while leading his side in a dominant set piece.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

2

Draws

0

Wins

3

Average Points scored

22

25

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

40%

The bar has been set incredibly high for the seven-time Super Rugby champion, a fact that was emphasised when a pair of former All Blacks took aim at Barrett’s form in the most recent episode of The Breakdown.

Jeff Wilson made it known Barrett’s form was making him nervous as he looked ahead to the international season, while Justin Marshall proposed shifting Barrett to the blindside flank in an effort to get the 80-Test All Black’s confidence back.

“As much as I love those two gentlemen, none of them have played in the forwards,” Crusaders coach Rob Penney responded in Christchurch this week.

“Scott’s fine. He’ll be determined, he’s a massively influential guy in our environment. We expect him to gradually get any doubters out of the way and kick on on the back end.”

The coach went on to add: “By no means has he been bad. I guess players of his ilk have high expectations every week, but they are human and there’ll be fluctuations.

“As the old saying goes, form comes and goes, but class is permanent, and he’s certainly got class. His form will come back to where we all hope it can be; very quickly, no doubt.”

Barrett himself was posed the question and acknowledged he hasn’t been playing his best rugby in 2025.

“It’s the media’s job to create interest and they’ve got opinions on performances,” he said.

“Possibly those opinions have been not far off the mark. I hold myself to a high standard and potentially some of my performances earlier in the year haven’t been where I’d like them to be.

“I’m not too sure what it is. I don’t want to give too much away. I know the things I’m working on. I’m just getting excited for the Hurricanes this week.”

A suggestion that parting ways with the captaincy had taken an edge out of his game was made, and Barrett didn’t dismiss that notion either.

“I do enjoy leading and possibly having that extra responsibility may have helped my performances in the past. I’ve just got to put my best foot forward each week for this team and get back to playing the best footy I can.

“I probably haven’t had the performances that I would have liked at the start of the season so I’ve been reflecting on that last week.”