Barrett drops bombshell

Next thing Beauden Barrett will be discussing recipes for Yorkshire puddings, draining pints of warm beer and discussing the heavy traffic on the M25.

When the All Blacks beat England 16-15 in the rain in London yesterday, it was the home team that scored the most tries. Two to one, in fact.

And get this. Barrett, best known for his brilliant running game, slotted all his shots at goal. A conversion, two penalties – and a drop goal.

It was the drop goal that caught many by surprise. Because when Barrett smacked his right foot into the ball early in the second half he broke new ground. It was his first in 71 tests for the All Blacks.

The fact the All Blacks were on a penalty advantage meant he could have a crack, knowing if it missed he had the chance for an easy shot off the tee.

‘‘I have been working on it for years,’’ Barrett said with a laugh. ‘‘Fossie [backs coach Ian Foster] is always chipping away. I guess in a game when it is wet you naturally stand a bit deeper.’’

Barrett was criticised by some fans for not attempting a drop goal in the loss to South Africa in Wellington in September. So when he broke his duck at Twickenham, he might have encouraged some of his critics to clam up.

‘‘It was a no brainer, we had an advantage,’’ Barrett added. ‘‘We probably would have kicked a goal anyway. We had a bit of momentum going, we felt pretty good. Felt instinctive, because it was something I have been working on.’’