Barrett flexible in approach to test against world No 2 Ireland
DUBLIN: Beauden Barrett concedes his approach to rugby transforms when he crosses the equator to tackle the heavyweights of the northern hemisphere.
All Blacks No 10 Barrett helped engineer the comeback from 150 down against England at Twickenham, withstanding wet conditions and a smothering rush defence from the hosts.
The effervescent playmaker landed a dropped goal and all his shots at goal during the tense 1615 win.
It was the sort of contest that could be mirrored in Sunday’s clash with world No 2 Ireland in Dublin.
It will require another change of mindset at the tailend of an All Blacks season in which their 11 tests before arriving at Twickenham averaged nine tries per match.
‘‘Your tactics as a team change. Weather conditions have an influence up here especially,’’ Barrett told reporters.
‘‘We had to get excited about chasing kicks instead of running with ball in hand.
‘‘Often the best offence in those conditions is our defence. It’s almost like ‘here you guys. Have a goifyouwanttoplaywiththeball in hand’.’’
However, Barrett agreed Ireland could offer more variety on attack than Eddie Jones’ kickbased approach with England.
He thinks Irish coach Joe Schmidt will have something unexpected up his sleeve.
That was the case when New Zealand was stunned 4029 in Chicago two years ago.
The All Black won the rematch in Dublin two weeks later but only after a torrid 80 minutes in which they were accused of an overly physical approach.
‘‘They’re a smart team. They’ll throw a few things at us we’ve never seen before,’’ Barrett said.
‘‘When you do lose in an All Black jersey it’s never nice. We can draw from those experiences, just a small reminder of how we felt in that changing room, to always respect Ireland.’’
Barrett will mark Johnny Sexton in a clash of two pivots nominated for World Rugby’s player of the year award.
While Barrett is chasing a third straight gong, he faces a stern challenge from Sexton, who enjoyed domestic success with Leinster and steered Ireland to the Six Nations crown.
A Ireland trio centre Garry Ringrose, fullback Rob Kearney and halfback Kieran Marmion are all on track for selection.
Ringrose and Kearney missed last weekend’s game against Argentina with hip and shoulder injuries respectively, while Marmion limped off with an ankle injury in the second half of that game.
Defence coach Andy Farrell said the trio trained in a full session ‘‘but [they] are on the right track’’. — AAP
LONDON: Sixtime champion Roger Federer put a troubled start to his 16th ATP Finals behind him as he outclassed Dominic Thiem 62 63 yesterday to stay on course for the knockout stage.
The 37yearold Swiss played poorly in defeat against Kei Nishikori on Monday and then skipped practice on Tuesday.
Comments made by French player Julien Benneteau to a radio station suggesting Federer was given preferential treatment by tournament organisers also threatened to disturb his week at the O2 Arena.
He responded with a smooth demolition of Austrian Thiem and then avoided being drawn into a row over Benneteau’s reported comments, saying they had been taken out of context.
‘‘I don’t feel like I need to comment on this. I’d rather put it to rest rather than adding to it so you guys got something to write about,’’ he told media.
Federer was more concerned with the way he rediscovered his form to convincingly beat Thiem, admitting his head had not been right in a straightsets defeat by Nishikori.
‘‘I’ll do the same tomorrow because it worked,’’ Federer said of deciding not to practise on Tuesday.
‘‘[The Nishikori defeat] was not about my forehand or my backhand or my serve or anything. I guess it was my head. For that sometimes you need a break.
‘‘We came to the conclusions, or the coaches thought, ‘take it easy. Enjoy the day with your family, and come out happy.’
‘‘The shots are there. I felt that way today. So I’m very happy that that was the right decision and I was able to show a reaction from my firstround match.’’
Federer, who has only failed to reach the semifinals in the event once in 15 appearances, will still need to beat group leader Kevin Anderson in straight sets tomorrow to be sure of making it to the weekend.
The mathematics of the roundrobin format, however, means he could lose and still progress depending on what happens in the match between Thiem and Nishikori.
‘‘I could win and still not make it, so from that standpoint it’s not in my power,’’ Federer said of his clash with Anderson whom he lost to in an epic Wimbledon quarterfinal this year.
‘‘Important for me is to play a good last match here in the roundrobin, try to beat Kevin. He has been playing great. He has had a wonderful season.’’
Anderson came within a whisker of a rare ‘‘double bagel’’ at the ATP Finals when he trounced Nishikori 60, 61 yesterday.
The 32yearold debutant at the ATP’s blue riband event won the first 11 games of the roundrobin clash before a relieved Nishikori finally got on the scoreboard with an angled winner.
Normal service was quickly resumed though as Anderson closed out victory thanks to a 24th unforced error by Nishikori.
Anderson, the first South African to qualify for the eightman event since 1995, has made it two wins from two roundrobin matches with a stunning display.