'You're in the 11 jersey, that's Jonah Lomu's jersey' - Jordie Barrett's journey across the All Blacks backline
At the highest level of rugby, few players in the backline can afford to only be comfortable playing in one position. Jordie Barrett is perhaps the most adept utility in the modern era, starting matches in four different jerseys for the All Blacks, and while some critics are quick to fire out the saying ‘jack of all trades, master of none’, Barrett is confident that playing across the backline has helped his overall game.
Barrett rose to the attention of the wider public during Canterbury’s Mitre 10 Cup title-winning run in 2016 when he played in the midfield, outside Richie Mo’unga.
While the Crusaders did come calling, Taranaki-born Barrett made the decision to sign for the Hurricanes, his local team. In his first season of Super Rugby, Barrett was utilised almost exclusively in the 15 jersey – though there were brief stints back in the midfield and on the wings.
The national selectors saw enough from Barrett in that 2017 Super Rugby season to call him up to the All Blacks and after debuting off the bench against Samoa, Barrett slotted in at fullback against the touring British and Irish Lions.
Since then, the 23-year-old has featured on both wings and, most recently, in the hallowed first five position for the New Zealand national side.
“Yeah it did feel different actually,” Barrett told RugbyPass regarding his first game at first five for the All Blacks.
“I‘d never really thought about the numbers thing and the whole aura around the jerseys, until the first time I played on the left wing. I think I’d just finished training and the team had just been released publicly or something and one of my mates texted me to say, ‘Far out, you’re in the 11 jersey, that’s Jonah Lomu’s jersey!’
“I’m very different from Lomu, obviously but I guess that spelled out a bit of the significance around the jersey numbers for me.
“That week I got the 10 jersey was pretty incredible. Obviously, Beaudie [Barrett] had been playing a lot at 10 and, of course, DC [Dan Carter] was my idol growing up. When I was a kid, everyone wanted to be like Dan Carter and so that was such a cool week. It was one of the most nervous weeks I’ve had in a long time but I enjoyed it. It was so satisfying coming off that field against Namibia.”
Barrett’s one and only time donning the 11-jersey made famous by the now-deceased Jonah was during last year’s Rugby Championship when New Zealand travelled to Argentina.
He’s also had just the one opportunity to run out with 10 on his back when he was tasked with guiding the All Blacks to a win against Namibia during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Perhaps that wasn’t the toughest of environments to be asked to cover a position you haven’t really played since university days (though, admittedly, that wasn’t too long ago for Barrett), but nothing’s a given in international football.
Coach Steve Hansen had absolute faith in his young utility, however, and despite suggesting that we likely wouldn’t see too much of Barrett playing first five in the future, he had no qualms entrusting him with the reigns for the Namibia game.
“We believe he has the skill-set and the confidence to do it,” Hansen said at the time. “He has played there before at lower levels. He’ll be fine. He’s been working on his patience and execution and coming into 10 will further enhance that.
“Hopefully, we don’t see him at 10 too many times. He’s a back-three player. As he gets older he may end up in midfield. He has a big boot, he’s good under the high ball. He’s brave with chase and catch, good handling skills.”
Luke Jacobson is one of the most promising loose forwards in New Zealand and, despite managing just 10 pro matches last year, was still selected to travel to the World Cup.
The Chiefs flanker spoke to @TomVinicombe about the season ahead. #AllBlackshttps://t.co/YYBj1IIzMo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 17, 2020
There were suggestions at the start of the year that Barrett could be called upon to play first five for the Hurricanes as older brother Beauden has now shifted north to the Blues – but that’s unlikely to eventuate.
“When John Plumtree was around in pre-season, he asked me what my thoughts were on playing 10,” Barrett revealed. “But I told him that we’ve got three good 10s who are awesome.
“I wasn’t too keen on playing 10 and time’s shown now that Jackson and Fletcher have done an awesome job and they’ve been playing so well. I’ve enjoyed a good run of performances at 15 and I’m just trying to gain some consistency.”
Still, having the ability to fill in at the drop of the hat is the kind of attribute that will continue to be appreciated at all levels of the game – and there are other benefits too.
“Some people look at it and think being moved around can be a hindrance, especially at this time of my career,” Barrett said.
“But the way I’m thinking about it – and hopefully I’m right in a few year’s time – I reckon I’ll look back and be thankful for it because you learn so much in so many different positions. You learn what other players want from you, you learn how to attack and defend, you learn what’s easy and what’s hard and what not to do.
“Playing at 15, I can tell how a wing is going to defend now and which systems teams are using just from having played there. So hopefully, hopefully it helps me in a way, as my career progresses – but I’ve just enjoyed playing different positions.”
While Barrett is yet to start a match in the centres for the All Blacks, you get the feeling that he would have no troubles if the opportunity presented itself – though he admits that he’s “not too sure if there’s any thought of permanently going back to the midfield.”
Of course, that begs the question: could Jordie Barrett become the first All Black (and likely first international player) of all-time to start a match in every position in the backline, from 9 to 15?
“I’m not sure if there’s any six-foot-four or five 9s in the world,” Barrett quipped when asked whether he was considering asking to have a run at halfback. “So no, certainly not.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn 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!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 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.
25 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.
25 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 comments