Barrett simply brilliant
Beauden Barrett says he was "in the zone" on Saturday night when he produced a first fiveeighths masterclass that might have even surpassed Dan Carter’s 2005 ‘‘Perfect 10’’ performance against the British and Irish Lions in Wellington.
But All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, being a tough marker, has declared that Barrett has only just begun to scratch the surface of his abilities and that bigger and better things are set to come from the 27-year-old playmaker extraordinaire.
Barrett was brilliant throughout as he torched the record book on Saturday night against the Wallabies at Eden Park with four tries and 30 points in a performance that had many comparing it to Carter’s stunning display against the Lions – widely considered the gold standard for the modern No 10 in the test arena.
The All Blacks No 10 unleashed the full gamut of his remarkable abilities in the 40-12
‘‘Beauden ... still has got a long way to go to be the player he is capable of being.’’ Steve Hansen on Beauden Barrett
victory which continued his side’s stranglehold over the Wallabies.
He started the match with a couple of fabulous defensive plays, scored two first-half tries with outstanding running lines to finish breakouts, added a dazzling dummy-and-go effort from halfway midway through the second half and crossed twice more in the final quarter out wide, though one was rubbed out for a dubious knock on at an earlier breakdown.
‘‘When you’re thought-free, you’re just out there in the moment doing it,’’ explained Barrett of his mindset in front of the 48,493 who packed Eden Park. ‘‘That’s when, as an athlete, I’m at my best, and it’s probably the same for everyone else. You’re just in the zone, in the moment, you’re executing, you’re all connected and you’re all on the same level.
‘‘The challenge as an athlete is how do you get there at the start of a game or as often as you can.’’
Barrett felt the test was one the All Blacks took some time to get a grip on but counted those tries either side of halfway as the difference-makers.
‘‘We’re aware that teams typically drop off at the end of the first half. It’s hard to keep that intensity up and you naturally fatigue, so we challenge ourselves to work that little bit harder, keep ball alive, and it worked. It’s when you have to work hardest, to win those small moments when fatigue is setting in.’’
The master No 10 also explained his remarkable second-half solo effort when he ran through a dazzled Wallabies defence.
‘‘It’s just looking up, seeing space, calling it, and doing the obvious. That’s all it is. There’s no magic or secret to it. Some games more opportunities come your way and you have to be ready to take them.’’
Coach Steve Hansen firmly believes he hasn’t seen the best of his No 10 yet either.
‘‘He’s a world-class player and he gets excited when he steps up to the big stage. He got some ball going forward and, the type of athlete he is, when he’s getting quality ball like that he’s really dangerous."
Hansen was reluctant to compare Barrett and Carter’s respective masterclasses.
‘‘They’re both quality players in a position where they have a massive influence. Beauden is not the finished article yet and he still has got a long way to go to be the player he is capable of being. That’s the exciting thing because he’s already shown how good he is.’’