Mum’s scones before test match
Scott Barrett will build up to what is expected to be just his second start with the All Blacks with a batch of mum’s scones after playing tour guide to his teammates around the family’s coastal Taranaki farm.
The All Blacks gave the biggest hint yet that Barrett will run on to Yarrow Stadium against Argentina by putting the young lock up alongside Brodie Retallick in front of the media on the second day of the squad’s build-up to Saturday’s Rugby Championship test.
While he fielded and answered the expected questions about how good it was to be home, Barrett was straight-faced about how special it would be for him to part of the starting lineup in front of so many family and friends.
‘‘Whenever you run out in an All Blacks jersey it’s a moment to cherish but to do it at home would make it all that much more special,’’ he said.
If he does, it will be just the second time he has started a test following his debut against Italy last November.
Seven tests have been added on to his resume since, although the third of the five Barrett boys has not enjoyed the immediate success older sibling Beauden had in his first year with the All Blacks.
Instead, the Crusaders lock has tasted defeat and a draw against the British and Irish Lions which followed the debut loss he suffered against Ireland in Chicago.
Despite that he has clearly moved into third place on the pecking order of the country’s second rowers behind Retallick and Sam Whitelock, considered by many as the finest locking combination currently in world rugby.
They are also not a bad pair to learn from, something Barrett naturally acknowledged.
‘‘Every day you are getting challenged and looking up to these two guys who have been in the All Blacks environment for such a long time, it’s pretty awesome. You are always learning.’’
Away from that education, Barrett said he was dealing with numerous requests from teammates to get a taste of rural Taranaki.
‘‘They want to come out and have a look at the farm so we’re taking a van down and I’ll show them around.’’
Retallick, a veteran of 66 tests, has put his hand up for the trip on the back of Barrett’s mother Robyn’s reputation for her scones while he is also looking forward to possibly partnering his room-mate for the week against Argentina.
‘‘He nails his homework and he certainly doesn’t leave any detail unknown to him,’’ he said. ‘‘He says that about me and Sam but he is certainly pushing us long and keeping us on our toes.’’
All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster thought Barrett’s form had improved throughout the Super Rugby season and he had shown the required all-round progression they had hoped for 10 months after coming into the environment.
‘‘He has really shown a lot of maturity in the way he has fitted in really, really quickly.’’