Why Jordie Barrett must be used as a wing by the All Blacks
Former All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan and ex-Black Ferns midfielder Hannah Porter have called on the All Blacks to reinstate Jordie Barrett on the wing in their upcoming tests against Tonga and Fiji.
The All Blacks will kick-off their 2021 test schedule this weekend when they host Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday before playing two tests against Fiji over the following two weeks.
As is normally the case leading into the first test of the year, plenty of anticipation surrounds head coach Ian Foster’s selection philosophy with plenty of new faces impressing in Super Rugby.
Others are eager to see which combinations will be formed or maintained this season, but Kirwan and Porter want to see one of last year’s more controversial selection decisions remain in place over the coming three weeks.
In a bid to ensure all of his best players were on the field at any one time, Foster opted to use Barrett, a utility back who specialises at fullback, on the right wing in most of last year’s tests.
In doing so, it allowed Foster to utilise a dual-playmaking scheme with Richie Mo’unga at first-five and Beauden Barrett at fullback.
The selection of the younger Barrett brother on the wing rather than at fullback, where he thrived at Super Rugby level for the Hurricanes, sparked plenty of debate as some questioned how effective picking players out of position was for the All Blacks.
What followed was a tumultuous year that saw the All Blacks reclaim the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup, but only with a 50 percent winning record after they suffered back-to-back defeats to the Wallabies and Los Pumas.
That under-par campaign intensified criticism not only of Mo’unga’s and Beauden Barrett’s dual-playmaking partnership, but also the use of Jordie Barrett on the wing instead of fullback.
With Beauden Barrett publicly expressing his desire to play at first-five for the All Blacks, which Foster has seemingly supported in recent weeks, the door appears to have opened for his younger brother to stake his claim for the No. 15 jersey.
However, Kirwan and Porter both said they want to see Jordie Barrett back on the wing for the tests against Tonga and Fiji.
Porter, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner, rejected the notion put forward by All Blacks defence coach Scott McLeod that injuries to New Zealand’s midfielders have made Barrett an emergency option to fill that positional void over the coming weeks.
A pair of former All Blacks greats, as well as an ex-Black Fern, have revealed who they believe should start for New Zealand in their first test this weekend. #AllBlacks #NZLvTGA https://t.co/pkjvMjtyUC
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With Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue and Braydon Ennor all sidelined for various periods, as well as Ngani Laumape’s defection to France, McLeod suggested Barrett, who has played in every backline position bar halfback, could move into the midfield if needed.
“There’s a number of options that can be played in the midfield,” McLeod said. “He [Barrett] played a lot of his junior rugby there, U20s. He’s talked about being an option there as well. If we get thin, that’s something we could look at.”
Porter stressed the importance of the All Blacks keeping Barrett on the wing, though, as she said New Zealand’s thin midfield stocks will require Rieko Ioane to stay in the midfield for the foreseeable future.
She said that, with Ioane in the midfield and Caleb Clarke set for the Olympics, the All Blacks will be without a power wing, meaning Barrett, who stands at 1.96m and 96kg, must be retained on the wing.
“I probably don’t see Jordie in the midfield. Without Rieko on the wing, we need a big, powerful winger, and I’d like to see him out on the wing filling that role,” Porter told The Breakdown earlier this week.
Will Genia’s tutelage and a Super Rugby AU title have Tate McDermott primed to make his Wallabies starting debut against France next week. #Wallabies #AUSvFRA https://t.co/M6TA3ms3Yp
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“He’s a little bit taller than the rest of the wingers we’ve got, he’s good in the air, he’s got a good skill set, he can come and take long-range penalties. I’d probably see him used in that role more than in the midfield in these test matches.”
Kirwan echoed Porter’s sentiments as he said that while Barrett is New Zealand’s “in-form fullback”, Foster’s lack of option in the midfield will require Barrett to go “straight to the wing”.
Kirwan added he believes that Damian McKenzie will start at fullback with Beauden Barrett to come off the bench, but made note of how important Jordie Barrett’s long-range goal-kicking ability will be in more competitive tests in the future.
“I don’t think this is going to come down to a three-point victory where you need to kick a 55-metre goal kick at the end of the game, like could happen in the World Cup semi-final, quarter-final,” Kirwan told The Breakdown.
“So, I still think his kicking game, his ability to kick long goals, is really, really important at the tight next level, but with losing the centres, I think he goes straight onto the wing.”
Foster will name his team to play Tonga on Thursday, with kick-off for that match scheduled for 7:05pm Saturday NZT.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, 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.
56 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 comments