'Still the best Barrett': Has Jordie Barrett become the favourite for the All Blacks No. 15 jersey?
Following the departure of All Blacks veteran Ben Smith to France after last year’s World Cup, the fullback role in the New Zealand set-up has become vacant.
Now plying his trade for Pau in the Top 14, the 33-year-old was barely utilised in his swansong international tournament in Japan, despite forging a reputation as one of the greatest fullbacks in modern-day rugby over a decade-long test career.
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Instead, Smith was only used twice in the starting lineup by ex-All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen throughout the six-match campaign – once at fullback and once at right wing.
In his place, Beauden Barrett was picked as the man for the job in the No. 15 jersey as the All Blacks opted for a dual playmaking scheme, with Richie Mo’unga the preferential first-five.
That experiment didn’t reap the rewards the All Blacks were looking for, though, as they were bundled out at the semi-final stage by England, and a re-think is now on the cards as to who should win selection at fullback in 2020.
With Smith now re-located to Europe, the All Blacks can’t call upon the 84-test star they overlooked last year.
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Barrett could well re-gain the No. 15 jersey, but based on the outcome of his positional switch in Japan combined with his world-beating exploits at No. 10 in the seasons before that, a return to first-five could be a much-needed one for the new Blues pivot.
However, the concept of having two playmakers on the field at any given time is still deemed a necessity in New Zealand’s professional ranks, as evidenced throughout Super Rugby.
With varying results, all five Kiwi franchises have used at least two – sometimes even three – playmakers in their backlines this season, so it seems inevitable that the All Blacks will continue to enforce the trend at international level.
But, should Barrett return to his preferred position of first-five, the question of who will succeed both him and Smith as New Zealand’s premier fullback remains unanswered.
That was the case until Friday night, so it seems.
The round seven-opening derby between the Chiefs and Hurricanes in Hamilton saw two of the country’s leading fullbacks go head-to-head in what could almost be seen as a trial of sorts leading into the international test window.
In Damian McKenzie, the Chiefs had an electric 23-test star, who is capable of covering first-five, line up against Hurricanes maestro Jordie Barrett, a genuine utility back option who has thrived since the departure of his older brother Beauden.
Unless the previously in-form Crusaders playmaker David Havili can pick up from where he left off when he recovers from his emergency bowel surgery, McKenzie and Barrett stand as the leading frontrunners for the All Blacks’ No. 15 jersey.
That added an extra dimension to an already tantalising New Zealand derby, but while both impressed through their respective styles of play, it is Barrett who has seemingly won over the public following his side’s tense 27-24 victory.
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The 23-year-old slotted a long-range penalty in injury time to cap off an immaculate display, where ran for a season-high 118 metres, beat six defenders, made one clean break, kicked 12 points and assisted Ben Lam’s try.
Subsequently, plenty of punters took to Twitter to voice their approval of the 17-test youngster, whose goal-kicking exploits has landed the Hurricanes inside the top eight sides on the Super Rugby standings.
With ice in his veins…… JORDIE BARRETT!!!#CHIvHUR
— Scott (@MadMaclegend) March 13, 2020
Ice in his veins. Jordie Barrett ?
— top charter (@General_North) March 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/__akhona/status/1238375433357471744
What a game! Jordie Barrett take a bow!#CHIvHUR
— Brian Fiu K?lia (@BKolia) March 13, 2020
Jordie Barrett ??????
— Ginton (@gynton) March 13, 2020
Stellar game from Jordie Barrett too, rock solid in every department.
— Philasande Sixaba (@psixaba) March 13, 2020
Jordie Barrett is still the best Barrett #CHIvHUR
— HoF Bucket Boy (@Ahell0) March 13, 2020
Despite his side’s defeat, McKenzie wasn’t to be outdone on the stat sheet, as he racked up a season-high 99 running metres, two clean breaks, eight defenders beaten – another season-high figure – and kicked nine points.
Such a commanding performance leaves McKenzie deep in the hunt for the All Blacks’ fullback role, but whether the selectors prefer his enthralling running game or Barrett’s size and goal-kicking won’t be determined until four months’ time.
If selection was left to the armchair critics, though, particularly after last night’s clash, Barrett appears the favourite to take the reigns from both his brother and Smith.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, 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
18 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 comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments