Barry rides attacking wave, but is pivotal in directing flow too
“I THINK when the other guys get fit it’s going to be a selection dilemma for us, given the quality of Craig Barry.”
Those were the words of Western Province coach John Dobson talking about WP fullback Craig Barry – and that selection dilemma he mentioned is going to be a big one.
Why? Because when Barry made his Currie Cup debut for Province against the Free State Cheetahs last weekend, he showed that his hot form wasn’t restricted to the SuperSport Rugby Challenge and Varsity Cup.
If you’ve been following the Varsity Cup star, you’d know that his performance against the Free State team was not beginner’s luck, nothing out of the ordinary.
A couple of years ago, Barry was one of those youngsters rugby coaches and die-hard fans alike couldn’t help but get excited about.
The Paul Roos product excelled through the WP junior ranks, and in 2011, he made the Junior Springbok squad. But one year later, in 2012, he was forced to take a back seat and miss out on lifting the trophy at Newlands with his fellow Baby Boks after injury hit.
And from there on the injury bugbear just wouldn’t leave the ball-player who knows how to deceive defenders just as well as he knows how to use his head to organise and guide a backline.
Now, a couple of years older and certainly more determined, Barry has another shot at a successful rugby career. And this season he’s laid the foundations superbly.
At Newlands last Saturday Barry, 25, made his Currie Cup debut for WP, not only scoring a try, but also producing a great performance overall – great enough to earn him the man-of-the-match award.
Barry was part of a WP backline that wreaked total havoc against a hapless Cheetahs side. But he didn’t just ride WP’s attacking wave – he proved vital in terms of directing the flow of that wave as well.
And while his unmissable attacking finesse has caught the eye of many a rugby fan, it’s his leadership, his communication and organisational skills… basically everything “less obvious” that Barry offers, that has impressed Dobson the most.
“Craig is a gem, and the thing about him that is probably less obvious to everybody is his communication skills, his organisational skills and his leadership – I mean he captained us a few times in the SuperSport Challenge. He captained Maties as well,” Dobson said earlier this week.
“And I think if you’re going to captain a team from fullback, you have to be exceptional as a leader and a good communicator, which Craig is.”
In a backline that features two Sevens specialists (three including Werner Kok on the replacements bench), the organisational and communication abilities of Barry can boost Province and assist the speedsters from the seven-man game to further sharpen their craft in the 15-man sport.
It’s something Dobson appreciates: “Our back three of Seabelo (Senatla), Ruhan (Nel) and Werner (Kok) are all Sevens players, and Craig’s leadership and guidance there is very important. He did a great job last week, he never stopped talking.”
But apart from what Barry can do for those around him in the WP backline, the most important thing for him is to perform consistently to ensure that him making the starting line-up isn’t just a temporary fix.
And judging by what Dobson said at the team announcement yesterday – about his looming selection dilemma – the experienced Matie isn’t just a plaster to hold the fullback position together until the injured SP Marais and Springbok Dillyn Leyds return.
I sure hope not, because it will be great to see what Gelant can do in the WP set-up in future if he manages to sidestep injury.