Barrett preaches virtue of discipline

Beauden Barrett has never lost back-to-back tests as an All Black. Until now. And he’s got a fair idea why his team will run out in Newcastle on Saturday night staring down the barrel of an unthinkable hat-trick of defeats.

For the experienced All Blacks game-breaker, this rock and a hard place the New Zealanders find themselves wedged between comes down to one important factor.

‘‘It’s clearly been our discipline,’’ Barrett said.

The All Blacks had been travelling sweetly till they took their eye badly off the ball against the Wallabies in Brisbane, and then backed that up with an historic 25-15 loss to Argentina in Parramatta. It was the first time since 2011 they had dropped two on the bounce.

‘‘The last two games you’ve seen referees have been forced to make some big decisions and a lot of penalties [have gone] against us ... and probably both teams,’’ Barrett said. ‘‘We can’t give them any opportunity to do that, and it starts with us and our discipline.

‘‘You look at our attack and defence and can pick that apart as much as you want, but it starts with us not giving the referees anything.’’

TheAll Blacks can still win the

Tri Nations trophy with a maximum haul on Saturday night and salvage some pride and respectability. But only, says Barrett, if players start taking a good, long look in their mirrors.

‘‘It starts with the individual. Every player has to have their ways to get back to the moment and not let those little frustrations get the better of them, which gives the ref no option but to penalise us. It hurts the team.

‘‘It’s like a skill, like our physical training. We need to train the brand as well and put away time in our weekly plan for it so we are growing the mental side of the game because it is a huge part of the quality of an All Blacks team.’’