BAREFOOT BROTHERS CAN WALK ON WATER

THEY are remembered in Ireland as the boys who turned up barefoot on their first day at school.

For the rest of the world it is their rugby prowess that marks out Beauden, Scott and Jordie Barrett – the first trio of brothers ever to be named in the same All Blacks squad.

At Eden Park on Saturday, where New Zealand are unbeaten since 1994, world player of the year Beauden will call the shots from fly-half.

Jordie, a full-back, and Scott, a lock forward, are likely to start on the bench. Whatever role they are assigned, it is some achievement for a family of Taranaki farmers.

Rewind to 1999 when parents Kevin and Robyn moved to Ballinacree, north west of Dublin, for a 15-month stint running a dairy farm.

It was there, locals suggest, Beauden (above) developed his world-class ability to cross kick while playing Gaelic football.

Eighteen years later he scored 24 points as the All Blacks beat Samoa 78-0. Jordie and Scott came on as second-half subs.

“They say our speed comes from Mum, who was a pretty talented athlete, and I guess the size and work rate is from Dad,” said Beauden, who pipped Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola to become world player of the year. “The closest previously we came to playing together was running as kids on the back lawn. This is beyond our wildest dream.”

No time to celebrate, not with the Lions on the way. “We know what’s coming,” Beauden said. “And we know we have to be better.”