Barrett reflects ABs respect for Ireland

New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett has reflected his team’s respect for Ireland ahead of the sides’ highly-anticipated Test in Dublin on Sunday (Fiji time).

Barrett spent a year as an eight-year-old living in Ireland and made his debut against the Emerald Isle in 2012. That three points (74-71) separates the All Blacks and Ireland since 2013 sums up the nature of what has fast become a fierce rivalry.

“We haven’t played Ireland at home since [2012]. I’ve played them twice up here. It’s always tough. And once in Chicago,” Barrett told the Irish Times.

“That shows the strength of Ireland and how far they have come. So yeah, they have improved a lot. We respect them as a team.” The world’s top two-ranked teams will go head-to-head at the Aviva Stadium this weekend and with it, two of the five candidates for World Rugby Player of the Year will face off, in Barrett and Sexton.

Sexton is frontrunner to claim the award ahead of the reigning back-to-back champion. He has been instrumental in Ireland’s Grand Slam success and Leinster’s European and PRO14 double.

“Johnny, he’s not afraid of pulling the trigger. He can execute some pretty good plays,” says Barrett. “He likes to give the ball space. So I guess we are similar be it a cross-field kick or a big pass. Yeah, he just has a great set of skills.”

Barrett said that much of the reason for Ireland’s improvement over the last five years was their focus on attention to detail.

“I don’t know the head coach too well, but I’ve played against [Andy] Farrell before and his defences,” he adds.

Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe.

Dane Coles, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo’unga, Anton Lienert-Brown.