New experiences for local stars at Twickenham
‘‘I had to hold back a few tears. I was getting quite emotional but I just wanted to get on the field as well.’’
Beauden Barrett had a little help as he led the All Blacks out of a tight spot in his first game as captain. Luckily for the newbie leader his water boy had played 107 times for his country and won two World Cups.
Barrett had regular skipper Kieran Read running the sideline hydration programme in Sunday’s 31-22 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham. And the talented Hurricanes playmaker didn’t mind admitting afterwards he was grateful for the assistance rendered.
A mostly second-string All Blacks side trailed 10-0 and 17-5 in the first half, and really only rescued the game with a three-try, 21-point outburst in seven minutes midway through the second spell.
‘‘I like it when my water boy brings good chat and he certainly brought that,’’ said Barrett of the presence of Read prowling the sideline.
Barrett said Read ‘‘gave me a couple of pointers on how to deal with the ref and what to say, and that was valuable. And there was just a simple message around the game-plan and structures’’.
Overall the star All Blacks No 10 felt the captaincy experience for the week had been hugely ben- eficial.
‘‘It was a great learning experience. Going into the week I was quite nervous. The haka was a great buzz. It was quite daunting thinking about it, but once we were out there I really enjoyed it and going forward I think I’ll be able to assist Kieran a lot better.’’
Barrett said the Barbarians gave them exactly the challenge the All Blacks had anticipated.
‘‘I was just pleased the way we bounced back. We kept it simple, adjusted our game accordingly, applied pressure on them and came away with the result.’’
Twenty-year-old Wellington hooker Asafo Aumua revealed it had been an emotional occasion for him as he made his first All Blacks experience off the bench.
He played just 13 minutes, but revelled in every one of them.
‘‘I’m pretty speechless right now, to put on the first cap, ‘‘ he said.
‘‘I’m honoured to put on the jersey and play for the boys, for my country and my family.’’
The haka had been the first indication for the brilliant youngster, who roomed with Codie Taylor for his first week as an All Black, that this was going to be a day he would never forget.
‘‘I had to hold back a few tears. I was getting quite emotional but I just wanted to get on the field as well.’’
Wing Waisake Naholo, who laid on two tries, and saved another by winning a tight race back against Baabaas star Kwagga Smith, felt it had been an imperfect tour opener.
‘‘It felt like we were all over the show,’’ said Naholo.
‘‘We didn’t connect very well. I think nerves got us ... it felt like we were trying a bit too hard. The leaders were talking to us about focusing on the next task and go from there.’’
And on Smith: ‘‘Wow, he’s fast. I was a bit worried there for a bit, and thought he was going to beat me to the ball. I might have snapped my hamstring if I had to go any faster.’’