Barrett wants to be on best behaviour
Scott Barrett and French referee Jerome Garces will forever be intertwined in one of the most infamous moments in All Blacks’ history.
Tomorrow night, when the All Blacks meet the Springboks in their first World Cup pool game in Yokohama, the pair will renew their acquaintance – although All Blacks lock Barrett will hope they depart on better terms.
It was Garces who red carded Barrett in the 39th minute of the 47-26 loss to the Wallabies in Perth on August 10, a result of the big second rower ramming his shoulder into the back of Michael Hooper’s neck while making a clumsy tackle.
When Barrett was sent from the field, he became just the fourth All Black to get his marching orders in a test and was later banned for three weeks.
Now, he and Garces will be back working on the same stage.
And for obvious reasons, Barrett will be aiming to prove to Garces why he has taken his medicine and moved on.
‘‘I think there’s obviously a fine line, and I have learned from that,’’ Barrett said from the All Blacks’ hotel in Tokyo after he was named to start at lock alongside Crusaders team-mate Sam Whitelock for the test against the Boks.
‘‘The laws are there for a reason, to protect players and players’ welfare.
‘‘So, yeah, I have been working hard and keen to address what I am doing.’’
With Brodie Retallick still unavailable – and coach Steve Hansen said it was still too early to say when he will be available to play – the All Blacks remain down a lock.
Patrick Tuipulotu, who started alongside Whitelock in the 92-7 win over Tonga in Hamilton on September 7, has been named on the bench.
Barrett played 30 minutes against Tonga when he replaced Whitelock, and reflected on what he had done to ensure he didn’t get offside with Garces in the mouth-watering fixture against the Boks.
It goes without saying that the All Blacks will be aware of the pitfalls of giving Garces reason to punish them. In addition to Barrett being sent off in Perth, flanker Ardie Savea needlessly shoved Hooper’s head into the turf and conceded a penalty.
Barrett said the key was to make sure his tackling technique wasn’t compromised when he got tired and noted all teams at the tournament had been briefed what the referees will deem to be foul play.
‘‘I think it’s your training, so that when you are under pressure – you are fatigued,’’ Barrett noted.
‘‘After a long half, you are going to go back to your habits, possibly I had a bit of a bad habit in the past.
‘‘I have addressed that. Getting the height in the tackle, that is a big part of it and I guess that’s what I have been working on.’’