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Scott Barrett's chance to secure his spot in the All Blacks' starting XV
While it was seen by some as a stop-gap measure in the semi-final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, it’s clear that Scott Barrett is now viewed as a genuine option on the blindside flank by the All Blacks selectors.
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Barrett will once again don the No 6 jersey when the All Blacks take on the Wallabies in Melbourne this Thursday and there’s reason to believe the shift into the back row could be somewhat of a permanent change for the 28-year-old moving forward.
Barrett was also named at blindside flanker in New Zealand’s first Test of the year but with Sam Whitelock and then Brodie Retallick unavailable for selection in the matches since, Dalton Papali’i, Akira Ioane and Shannon Frizell have been given chances in the role, with Barrett shifting back into his more traditional locking berth.
Frizell has made the most of his opportunities over the past three matches and could have possibly retained his spot at No 6 against Australia a rib injury suffered against Argentina – coupled with the return from injury of Retallick – means coach Ian Foster can once again name all three of Retallick, Whitelock and Barrett in the All Blacks forward pack.
“We were really pleased with his Tests against Ireland,” Foster said of Barrett. “Circumstances meant that we didn’t go there again but it’s an option we clearly want to keep our sleeve and use and it’s a great occasion for it.”
With all three locks fit and available, Barrett is probably third overall in the pecking order – but he could yet stake a claim as the team’s best option on the blindside flank.
Retallick, the man who has replaced Barrett in the second row, suggested that while running the full trio of second-rowers could add some height to the All Blacks lineout, Barrett will still be carrying out all the normal duties of a blindside flanker.
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“Obviously he’s a tall 6 – maybe he’s a bit taller than some of the other boys – but nothing changes too much in terms of his role,” Retallick said. “It just adds a bit more height.
“He runs our D lineout. He’s got a very good brain around lineouts so he brings a lot of knowledge there but he’s just filling in the role that any of the other boys do as a 6 as well so nothing’s changed too much.”
Openside flanker Sam Cane, meanwhile, will now have to operate with two new partners following the recent 53-3 win over Argentina, with Hoskins Sotutu also coming into the loose forwards for the unavailable Ardie Savea. That’s of no concern to the All Blacks captain, however.
“Scooter [Barrett] has done a really good job at 6, the times he’s been called upon at the start of the year,” he said. “It just makes sense having the big man Brodie back, he loves these encounters.
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“And then Hoskins has been patiently waiting for his opportunity [after] another impressive Super Rugby campaign. He’s been training the house down with us. He’s been putting in a good show in helping us prepare every week and I know he’s ready for his opportunities and excited about it.”
The new-look trio will be facing off with a fresh Wallabies triumvirate. Rob Valetini has retained his spot at No 8 but will be joined by Rob Leota and Pete Samu to round out a physically impressive backrow.
“They’ve picked a loose forward trio that they’re all good, strong ball carriers,” Cane said. “I think they’ll be anticipating the game’s going to be quite physical.
“I think the breakdown’s always important but often the result of a breakdown is how well the team is playing on top in terms of getting over the gain line with carries so I think they’ve picked a loose forward trio that will hopefully try and do that and it’s our job to nullify that and put it back over them.”
Thursday’s match between the All Blacks and Wallabies is set to kick off at 7:45pm AEST.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
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