Reluctant genius
Even on his home ground, Beauden Barrett would rather avoid the media scrum surrounding tonight’s championship.
‘‘It’s Barrett’s ground now.’’
The official title might be Westpac Stadium, but you take Dane Coles’ point. Sam Cane had put it to the All Blacks hooker that the ground was his forever, thanks to captaining the Hurricanes to a maiden Super Rugby title there earlier this month.
Praise doesn’t sit well with Coles and he’s not slow to have a dig when it’s lavished upon a teammate. The popularity of Barrett and Ardie Savea hasn’t escaped Coles’ attention in recent times, for instance, nor did that of former Hurricane and All Black Conrad Smith.
That’s more of an aside. Fact is Coles might be the Hurricanes captain but Barrett does pretty much own Westpac Stadium now, following a succession of stellar performances in the Super Rugby season, as well as the All Blacks’ win over Wales in June.
The extent of Barrett’s evolution is probably the story of the New Zealand rugby year. For the Hurricanes he’d been something of an erratic genius and the All Blacks were really only prepared to use him in a bench role.
The bloke might give you an amazing last 20 minutes, but trusting him at first five-eighth for the full 80 in a match of consequence was probably a stretch.
Barrett was always been capable of moments of brilliance, but adding game-management and reliable goalkicking now make him the full package. Rugby is one of the ultimate team games, yet there were times during the Hurricanes’ playoff run when it appeared their first-five was winning matches on his own.
One of the ironies of possessing such a rounded repertoire of skills, was that Barrett’s attacking forays suddenly have more danger about them too.
‘‘He’s playing outstanding and just his speed to beat defenders and just the way he’s gliding through defences, it’s unreal and hopefully I get fast like that one day,’’ Hurricanes and All Blacks team-mate Julian Savea said.
The only problem with it all for Barrett is that everyone notices how well he’s playing and wants to talk to him about it.
Few players relish media commitments but such is his vein of form that Barrett has been obligated to speak pre and postmatch for weeks.
Each time people want to know the secret to his transformation, with work-life balance, enjoyment, yoga and pilates among the reasons Barrett he’s offered up. It’s through his performances, though, that he often says the most.
Man-of-the-match as the All Blacks beat Australia 42-8 in Sydney last week, the expectation is that he can deliver a similar performance when the teams meet again at Westpac Stadium tonight.
It might be Barrett’s ground now but he finds discussing his success there awkward.
‘‘I know sitting here and the big fella [Savea] giving me compliments, it’s a little bit embarrassing and I don’t like it that much,’’ Barrett said.
‘‘But it’s certainly a lot better than it going the other way and you’ve got to accept it when you can. It’s not that bad but I’d prefer to slip under the radar.’’
Doesn’t seem much chance of that.
‘‘I know sitting here and the big fella [Julian Savea] giving me compliments, it’s a little bit embarrassing and I don’t like it that much. I’d prefer to slip under the radar personally.’’