Barrett back on tour as Sopoaga stays home for birth
Beauden Barrett was neither surprised nor complaining about his late-notice recall for the All Blacks’ trip to Argentina.
The hard-working All Blacks first five-eighth, who has started all eight tests in 2017, was originally slated as one of six players to sit out the trip to Buenos Aires for the Rugby Championship clash against the Pumas, and head directly to South Africa after some extra R ‘n R.
But that plan proved ill-fated, with the 26-year-old called in at late notice to replace Lima Sopoaga in the travelling squad of 28 to face the Pumas as the All Blacks look to seal another title with their fifth victory from as many matches in the competition.
Sopoaga and his partner Miriam are still awaiting the birth of their first child, and he has been released from the trip, with coach Steve Hansen confirming he’ll likely join them in South Africa, providing the baby comes in time.
It would have been a rare chance for Sopoaga to showcase his abilities in a starting role for the All Blacks. Of his 11 test caps, 10 have been off the bench, with his sole stint in the run-on XV against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2015 (a match won 27-20 by the New Zealanders).
Barrett will instead get the chance to add to his heavy workload from 2017. He has played all but 31 minutes of the All Blacks’ season to date, subbed off for the final 21 minutes of the All Blacks’ first-up 78-0 thumping of Samoa at Eden Park, and also spending 10 minutes in the sinbin during the 39-22 victory over Argentina in New Plymouth.
‘‘I was ready to go. I thought it would be too good to be true and I was expecting to go the whole time, so it’s business as usual and off we go,’’ Barrett said from their Auckland airport hotel yesterday.
He said he had been well aware of the situation all through and had no concerns about the missed opportunity to get an extended break between tests.
‘‘I’m as fresh as a daisy,’’ added Barrett. ‘‘Obviously family comes first and it’s exciting for Lima. If I was in his position that’s exactly where I’d want to be, expecting my first child. Here I am and I’m excited to be going to Argentina.’’
Hansen was not too concerned about having to rethink a plan he said was always flexible and confirmed Barrett would likely catch the time off back up, possibly with a later start to the November tour.
‘‘He’ll get through his workload no problem,’’ he added. ‘‘It was the travel we didn’t really want to put him through. We might find a way of giving him a little break after the Aussie game [in Brisbane], and bring up to the Barbarians game late because he won’t be playing in that anyway.’’
The last time the All Blacks headed for an away test without their star lock duo of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, who sit this one out alongside Liam Squire, Sam Cane and Ryan Crotty, they were rolled by Ireland in Chicago.
But Barrett had no fears of history repeating in BA.
‘‘We’ve learnt a lot about potential banana skin games,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s about keeping our standards high, no matter what team we play. Argentina are a very good side, they pushed us for 60 minutes in New Plymouth. We’ve got enough to work on with our own game to be worrying about anything else.’’
Barrett also revealed another reason why he was happy to be called in for the Argentina leg of this demanding Rugby Championship tour.
‘‘The big boys are already talking about the steaks and so on, but I’m more excited about the Malbec wine.When we go out for dinner on Tuesday night that’s something I look forward to. It will be the same this time round.’’
That’s Barrett for you. Always finding the positive in anything he does.