'They've had five different 12s in five games': Verdict on Jordie Barrett's position switch
All Blacks star Jordie Barrett has received a mixed verdict from current and former Kiwi internationals following his first outing at second-five in three years on Sunday.
Barrett was named at No 12 for the Hurricanes in their 30-29 Super Rugby Pacific defeat to the Chiefs in Wellington on Sunday, the first time he had played there for the franchise since 2019.
Much had been made about his positional switch in the lead-up to the match, with many viewing his move from fullback to the midfield as a sign of things to come over the coming years.
However, while he showed glimpses of promise with several ball carries and some punishing tackles to keep the Chiefs behind the gain line, Barrett struggled to find great chemistry in the Hurricanes’ backline.
As such, former All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina told The Breakdown on Sky Sport that Barrett “wasn’t quite at his best” in his latest performance, but suggested that was to be expected given the difficulties that come with changing positions.
“We all know he started there [at second-five] when he played for Canterbury,” Muliaina, who has firsthand experience in being moved to the midfield during his All Blacks career, said.
“A few years ago, I thought that would be his position. Obviously the opening with the All Blacks was at fullback and he took that on.
“He wasn’t quite his best today, but it just goes to show how difficult the positions are, or how different they are. Playing at the back, you’ve got so much time. At the back, you give a bit more voice and direction.
“The thing is going forward, what does he do now? He’s saying he wants to play second-five, does he stay there?”
Former All Blacks and Chiefs No 8 Steven Bates agreed with Muliana’s summary, adding that Barrett can’t be blamed for failing to fire as well as he’d have liked.
Bates also told The Breakdown that the Hurricanes need to make a permanent decision about where Barrett should play as alternating between fullback and the midfield could prove challenging for the 25-year-old.
“I reckon today probably didn’t go his way. Sometimes games go like that. I don’t think he was fantastic or set the world on fire, and that’s not necessarily his fault,” Bates said.
“The hard thing is to say, ‘He didn’t have the influence today, so let’s just move him back to fullback’. If the Hurricanes buy in and the All Blacks buy in and want to play him as a second-five, give him time there.
“We know he is a fantastic rugby player, he can play where ever he wants, just needs to be given a bit of time there. Chopping and changing, it’s pretty difficult.”
Black Ferns star Cheslea Semple, a second-five herself, echoed Bates’ comments that Barrett needs time in the midfield if he is to nail it down.
Semple said that expecting the 36-test All Black to be at his best straight away was always going to be a tall ask before highlighting the inconsistency of the Hurricanes’ selections at second-five this season.
“It’s time in the saddle for me,” Semple told The Breakdown.
“At Super Rugby level, when the games are this high quality, you can’t expect a player to switch into a new position he hasn’t played in that team before and perform at his best and be miraculous in one game.
“I think if the Hurricanes want to make this work, they’ve had five different 12s in five games, they haven’t had much consistency there.
“If Jordie is coming out saying he wants to be a 12, he’s just got to have time in the saddle and back up game after game playing there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments