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The Barrett brother who has impressed Will Genia the most in 2023
In a promising start to the All Blacks‘ international season, one man has stood out for Wallaby great Will Genia.
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An architect behind both wins to start the season and causing a major selection headache for Ian Foster, Scott Barrett has provided the All Blacks with immense physicality and front foot ball while executing at set piece.
The form of the Crusaders captain has forced a discussion which previously would have been considered unthinkable – moving Sam Whitelock to the bench.
That is exactly where the 143-cap veteran will enter Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup match from in Melbourne, being named as a reserve in his return from injury.
Another strong shift from Barrett could see Whitelock’s fourth World Cup journey begin in the No 19 jersey as opposed to his familar No 5. That is the direction things are heading in Genia’s eyes, with the middle Barrett brother lighting up The Rugby Championship so far.
“The player that I’ve been really, really impressed with is Scott Barrett,” Genia told The Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “I think he’s been incredible. His ability in the ball carry, he probably doesn’t get spoken about enough.
“His ability in the ball carry, he’s always looking to dominate that physical space and we probably need a little bit more of that in our second row as well, with big Will (Skelton) and Richie Arnold.
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“I rate him really, really highly. For whatever reason he seems to be someone who’s always moving on to the ball with pace, he’s got a huge engine. And because he’s solid in the carry he has the ability to create offloads as well.
“They’ve got a really nice balance there, I think Sam Whitelock is an absolute legend of the game, he has to come back as well and you’ve got to find ways to fit him in. But I’ve really liked the way that they’ve looked and the way that forward pack is functioning.
“I think Scott Barrett’s been excellent and I think (Shannon) Frizell was excellent on the weekend as well.”
Frizell and Barrett lining up alongside one another in Foster’s preffered starting unit seemed unlikely just a month ago, when the discussion was centred around which of the two would start at blindside flanker.
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Whitelock’s experience will inevitably play a major role in the All Blacks’ World Cup campaign regardless, being a lineout mastermind and bringing that expertise to the scouting report.
Scott’s selection push may well result in all three Barrett brothers not just making the All Blacks’ starting XV but featuring in decisive positions across the park.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to comments