Barretts let their hair down
Arguably the most stylish All Black of them all has turned.
Yes, glamour first five-eighth Beauden Barrett is said to have joined the ‘‘mullet movement’’ created by team-mates Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Liam Squire. While they’re all forwards, getting a back on board – particularly one as photographed as Barrett – is a big development.
And he might not be the only member of the Barrett family who’s looking to let the back of their hair down.
‘‘Well, it’s come along at a great rate of knots. We’ve secured a back, in Beaudy Barrett,’’ Retallick announced in Nelson yesterday, where he and prop Owen Franks were on media duty.
‘‘He told us yesterday that he went to the hairdresser and told the hairdresser not to touch the back of his hair, so that’s a start. Supposedly Jordie’s [Jordie Barrett] on board. Owie’s [Owen Franks] not quite there yet.’’
Retallick first mentioned the movement ahead of the first match of the Rugby Championship, against Australia in Sydney, quoting the hairdresser from the salon he frequents in Hamilton.
‘‘The motto that sums it up is when we went to the hairdresser and got the mullet, she said ‘if you ask me the mullet never went out of fashion’. It’s always been there . . . you’ve just got to be a true believer,’’ Retallick said at the time.
It amused fans on both sides of the Tasman, even if one or two All Blacks still regard it as nonsense.
‘‘Some people are not willing to jump on board; they think it’s a bit silly,’’ Retallick said.
It’s only a bit of fun and certainly less dry than some topics that can come up at press conferences. And if it keeps Retallick amused and playing the kind of rugby he has in recent weeks, then it’s no bad thing.
The lock was absolutely outstanding in the All Blacks’ 38-13 win in Sydney, before producing a similarly good performance in the following week’s 40-12 win at Eden Park, to keep the Bledisloe Cup out of Australian hands for another year.
Retallick received rave reviews, especially for the ANZ Stadium game, but hasn’t let them turn his head.
‘‘It’s one performance. Sydney was two weeks ago, this test is completely different,’’ he said.
Argentina are the foe now, fresh from a very impressive 32-19 win over South Africa in Mendoza, where Retallick took particular notice of their lineout prowess.
‘‘In the past we’ve backed our speed to get on top of them, but seeing them in the first couple of rounds, they’ve become very explosive and they’re chucking their jumpers outrageously high in the air.
‘‘They have obviously put a lot of work into that, especially defensively, trying to cut off ball.
‘‘[Lineouts] are like running a race, the fastest person wins. If you’re the first off the ground with a good lift, then 99 per cent of the time you’re going to get to the top before they do. That’s certainly the philosophy we take to it.’’
The All Blacks were able to take a huge amount of ball away from Australia in the Bledisloe Cup games, severely limiting their ability to launch attacks. Retallick and company are eager to do similar against the Pumas, but won’t give away any trade secrets in the meantime.