Barrett no bolter for Lions just yet
OPINION: If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Or, put another way, if you’re Jordie Barrett, you’re assuredly ready for whatever Steve Hansen has planned for you.
The big question is does the extraordinarily talented Hurricanes utility back make it as a traditional ‘‘bolter’’ for the June/July test series against the British and Irish Lions? Or does the All Blacks coach play the longer game with a 20-year-old still taking his baby steps in the world of professional rugby?
My hunch at this stage would be he won’t be thrown to the Lions mid-winter; but instead introduced more judiciously, maybe as a fully-fledged member of the endof-year tour squad, but possibly earlier. Injuries, of course, could always alter the most carefully thought-out of plans.
Barrett is assuredly an All Black in waiting. That’s now a given. We had a fair idea of that last year when Hansen took him on his November tour as an ‘‘apprentice’’. Now we know it for sure after witnessing with our own eyes his impressive introduction to Super Rugby.
The lad, you could say, is born for it. The younger brother of star All Blacks first five-eighth Beauden and Crusaders lock/ loosie Scott (who played his first four tests on that same tour last November) has excitement written all over him.
His performance in last weekend’s Hurricanes victory over the Highlanders in the capital showcased all that is exhilarating about him. He mixed the gritty (try-saving tackles in the corner) with the pretty (an exquisite behind-the-back pass that put Matt Proctor in for a score) and even put in a Beauden-style pinpoint crosskick that served up Ngani Laumape’s first fivepointer. He had it on a string.
The fact the kid has just turned 20 (in February), can play fullback, midfield, 10 and even wing at a pinch, is exquisitely tall (1.96m) and equally athletic and seems to have a temperament to take it all in his loping stride just makes his inevitable introduction to test rugby even more exciting. But how soon is too soon? I’d be surprised if Hansen has any ‘‘bolters’’ in his squad to face the Lions, and that may mean Barrett waits a little longer for the chance to become part of the first trio of brothers to ever take the field together for the All Blacks.
The Lions is no series to experiment, or to take a peek at the future. The stakes are so high, physicality so immense, competition so pure that it would be a major surprise if Hansen veered far from the tried and tested in June and July.
That’s just common sense, even if the All Blacks coach has never been scared to make a judicious roll of the dice in the past.
So maybe Jordie’s Lions experience is confined to the Hurricanes matchup on June 27. Laumape too, though he has already revealed himself as an exciting and powerhouse option in the No 12 jersey and would be another ‘‘bolter’’ worthy of the name.
Hansen has built up a deep reservoir of talent over the last few years and will be reluctant to veer far from that for the Lions. These tours only roll round every 12 years these days, and are surpassed only by World Cups in status. The future-proofing can wait, injury permitting, till later in the year.
But be patient. Jordie Barrett’s time is approaching fast. Brace yourself, because it could be something very special indeed. A quarter of the way through the Super Rugby season and you don’t need me to tell you it’s been a battle for the Australian teams.
And with SANZAAR and the ARU threatening to get rid of one of our teams, there are some clouds overhead.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for Australian rugby. There have been some bright spots in the opening rounds of Super Rugby.
Here are a few players who have caught my eye this season.