'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
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
24 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
24 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
10 Go to comments