The number of Kiwi fans calling for Beauden Barrett to return to the All Blacks bench is rising
Although the Blues mustered a mighty fight in Christchurch, they ultimately succumbed to the red and black machine, going down 26-15 in an enthralling clash.
From fullback, many expected All Blacks‘ star Beauden Barrett to stamp his authority on the match for the Blues, but he failed to take the spotlight and wasn’t able to get involved as much from the back, while Leon MacDonald stuck with Otere Black and then Harry Plummer at 10.
It was Richie Mo’unga who stole the show with outstanding goal kicking and smart play, utilising a short kick-off that he regathered that became a pivotal momentum swing in the game.
The showing cemented many fans view that Richie Mo’unga is indeed New Zealand’s best first five eighth and left the door open on Barrett’s best position.
I’m so sick of saying it* but Richie Mo’Unga is so much better at rugby union than Beauden Barrett and it makes me so happy every time he proves that point.
*I’m not sick of saying it, I fucking love pointing it out.
— Louis Herman-Watt (@LouisHWatt) July 11, 2020
Yesterday was compelling evidence that BB is not a fullback.
— Gurpreet Singh Rana (@Gurpr33t_Singh) July 11, 2020
I just struggle with the people who tell me he's the best player in the world and New Zealand's face of rugby but then continue to make excuses for him. If he was as good as people swear by, wouldn't he have made even a slight impact from fullback????
— Louis Herman-Watt (@LouisHWatt) July 11, 2020
Many fans still believe Barrett is a first five and being played out of position, hurting his chances of influencing the match more, but there are rising numbers of believers in Barrett as an impact player.
Some fans even suggested that a return to the All Blacks bench would suit Barrett, where he flourished as an impact player for his first few years of test rugby, and played a pivotal role at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
One fan wrote ‘he’s never going to be a great test 10, and he’s not going to be our best fullback by the next World Cup’ but that he is ‘by far’ the best bench player.
My 2c…
BB is a magical player in a certain type of game. Front foot ball, solid platform laid by the forwards.
In a tight game that requires game management, I dont think he is as good as Richie Mounga.
Perhaps his best position for the @AllBlacks is off the bench (rwc2015)
— Gurpreet Singh Rana (@Gurpr33t_Singh) July 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/NZleftrightout/status/1283314998102523904
One fans Twitter poll asking where Beauden Barrett would play in the All Blacks next test had nearly 20% of the voters saying he would be on the bench, showing a stark rise in those who are in the ‘Barrett impact player’ camp.
unpopular opinion, but I'm going for Beauden Barrett's best days are behind him. As for the poll, I need you to tell me when the next All Blacks test is.
— Andrew (@shortflyslip) July 12, 2020
Even Stuart Barnes, the former British & Irish Lion turned rugby pundit, claimed Barrett risked “falling from the pinnacle to the All Blacks’ bench”.
“New Zealand rugby is in danger of turning one of the most original talents in the history of the sort into a liability,” wrote Barnes.
With Jordie Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, and David Havili all in the fullback mix, the position is crowded with emerging talent who will likely be peaking at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Beauden Barrett will be 32-years-old which is one year younger than Ben Smith was at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Smith had a magic year with the All Blacks as a 32-year-old in 2018 before losing his position before the start of the World Cup tournament to Sevu Reece.
Smith was already the oldest fullback for the All Blacks in the professional era, outlasting centurion Mils Muliaina who was 31 when he lost his position to Israel Dagg.
If Barrett is to make the next World Cup as a fullback, he will be battling father time to stay on top as the number one option.
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments