Beauden’s Bronco record put to the test
Scott Barrett’s decision to re-sign with NZ Rugby through to 2023 should ensure the All Blacks are flush with experienced locks for the next World Cup in France.
Losing 19-7 to England in the World Cup semifinal in Japan last year motivated Barrett, 26, to refuse to look at options overseas and instead commit to a longterm deal with the All Blacks, Crusaders and Taranaki.
Following the announcement yesterday, Crusaders captain Barrett confirmed there’s also no clause in the fresh deal that allows him to skip Super Rugby, and follow the trail blazed by test locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, who exercised options to play in Japan this year.
Whitelock and Retallick, the latter will return to New Zealand after May 2021, are both signed with NZ Rugby until 2023 which will potentially provide the All Blacks selectors the opportunity to pick three top locks – form permitting – for the next World Cup.
Although Barrett, who has played 36 tests since his debut against Ireland in Chicago in 2016, started the ill-fated semifinal against England at blindside flanker he has been utilised in the second row for the majority of his career.
The defeat to the English at Yokohama Stadium was not a night for Barrett to cherish at No 6; he was replaced by Sam Cane at halftime after coach Steve Hansen’s plan to add extra height to the back row and disrupt the
Over to you, Damian McKenzie.
All Blacks strength and conditioning coach Nic Gill shared a lot of others’ excitement at Beauden Barrett’s sizzling record time for the Bronco fitness test when Super Rugby sides returned to work on Monday.
Gill hasn’t clocked any All Blacks faster over the 1.2km shuttle run, but reckons if anyone can push Barrett close it’s McKenzie, who is scheduled to do his Bronco test with Chiefs team-mates tomorrow.
‘‘I’ve seen him [Barrett] do 4.20 before, so you’re talking seven or eight seconds [off his personal best]. It depends who he’s running with. I’ve seen him challenged pretty hard by Damian McKenzie, he normally gives Beauden a pretty good push.
‘‘I’m looking forward to seeing how Damian turns up [on Thursday]. I assume it will be talked about and he will get a bit of banter from his team-mates.’’
The Bronco is the standard opposition lineout misfired.
‘‘I still feel, you know, that hurt from losing that [the World Cup] last year,’’ Barrett said. ‘‘It is a big driver to stick around and work towards.’’
Although there had been speculation Barrett may be tempted to move to the Hurricanes, where younger brother Jordie plays, he never considered leaving the Crusaders.
Older brother Beauden, now fitness test for the Super Rugby sides, and involves an up-and-back of 20m, 40m and 60m, five times over.
Records from each franchise were requested, but difficult to obtain yesterday. It appears no Super Rugby player had broken 4min 20sec until Barrett scorched the Alexandra Park turf like the trotters that zip around its racetrack. Halfback Jonathan Ruru stuck with Barrett and clocked an impressive with the Blues after leaving the Hurricanes and contracted to NZ Rugby until 2023, could potentially be joined by siblings Scott and Jordie at the global tournament in France providing the latter also extends his existing deal beyond 2021.
‘‘So I have given myself a target to aim towards,’’ Scott said in reference to 2023.
‘‘Hopefully, I can put last year’s disappointment into a potential World Cup win.’’ 4min 14sec as the Blues reported eight players recording personal bests.
At the Crusaders, former halfback Andy Ellis still holds their record of 4min 23sec, strength and conditioning coach Simon Thomas confirmed.
When asked on Monday, Hurricanes coach Jason Holland thought Jordie Barrett would match his brother but it seems the younger brother’s best is just over 4min 20sec.
‘‘Was it really… s..t you’d have to check those measurements,’’ Holland said with a laugh of Beauden’s time. ‘‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that quick.’’
Gill said Jordie Barrett, who at
The 1.97m Barrett, who was reunited with his Crusaders team-mates this week after the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to disband in mid-March, was appointed skipper of the Super Rugby title holders for this season because Whitelock was absent.
That arrangement will continue to stand, despite test centurion Whitelock returning to the Crusaders due to the Top League being cancelled. 196cm and 95kg is 9cm taller and 4kg heavier than his older brother, had a tough task to match his sibling.
‘‘Typically the low 4.20s is where those whippets tend to be. Jordie is a bit heavier than Beaudy, which makes a bit of a difference. Weight is a huge disadvantage in anything involving running.’’
There are no official records from overseas rugby teams, with US Sevens fliers and former sprinters Carlin Isles and Perry Baker said to have broken 4min 10sec for the Bronco which tests baseline fitness but also speed off the mark with its many quick turns.
Over the shorter distance, the standard 40m sprint, Gill said former Chiefs flier Lelia Masaga was the fastest he’d seen, with Rieko Ioane and the Gear brothers Rico and Hosea up there too.
Anything in ‘‘the high fours’’ (4sec) is a slick time for 40m, and Gill says the quickest All Blacks can reach speeds of 35-38kmh measured by GPS trackers.
‘‘There’s not a lot that separates outside backs over 40m. But as they get heavier they tend not to be as fast. Jonah Lomu was the biggest freak of nature because he was big but still ran quick. George Bridge and the likes are pretty quick, but they’re carrying a few kilos less than Rieko. Beaudy, Damian, Rieko, George, you’d probably throw a blanket over those guys.’’
Gill said Barrett’s Bronco record time showed the benefits of the top players taking extended periods off to freshen up. Barrett hasn’t played a match since the Rugby World Cup.
‘‘It’s a great example of the fact Beauden is refreshed and had a good break but he’s also been working really hard. That’s the best thing, it sounds like he’s in the shape of his life. There was a bit of anxiety in the rugby community about this Covid lockdown and players being in isolation, and what this has shown is the guys are running fit and have stayed in good condition generally. There’s a few outliers but players are hitting good numbers.’’