Busy Barrett issues plea ‘about unity’
A lot of responsibility has fallen on to Beauden Barrett’s shoulders this week.
In any normal week, assuming the Hurricanes captaincy wouldn’t be too difficult a task, but this hasn’t been a normal week for anyone.
It’s the same situation for Barrett, but added to that has been him assuming the prime leadership position among the players with captain Dane Coles and vicecaptain TJ Perenara banished from training while they complete one of their All Blacks rest weeks.
It comes after a tricky game last week in terms of mentality. His side’s draw against the Chiefs was played just hours after the shootings at the Christchurch mosques.
Barrett said it was an odd game with the players dealing with the shock in their own different ways.
‘‘Most of us wondered if we were playing or if we weren’t. We were all sort of on different wavelengths when it came to our mindsets and the way we were feeling. I would’ve been happy not to play, but then again we just got on with it.’’
That, as a starting point for the week ahead, presented a big challenge for Barrett. His team-mates, coaches and management staff halted their captain’s run at Westpac Stadium yesterday to observe the two minutes of silence at 1.32pm.
Barrett said their thoughts remained firmly with those affected by last Friday’s attacks.
‘‘We’re still talking about it in our preparations. We had a moment of silence there for all those affected, their families, the Muslim community and basically all New Zealanders who are hurting.’’
He also had a day of personal reflection on Thursday, which was World Down Syndrome Day.
It’s not a widely reported fact, but one of Barrett’s three sisters has Down syndrome. Barrett is a supporter of the UpsideDowns Education Trust.
Barrett also showed up for the traditional pre-game captain’s media opportunity wearing rainbow laces in his rugby boots.
The All Blacks wore rainbow laces against Italy at the end of last year after former Wales rugby player Gareth
What: Super Rugby, round six
Where, when: Westpac Stadium, Wellington, tonight 7.35pm
Hurricanes: Chase Tiatia, Wes Goosen, Matt Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, Richard Judd, Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Fraser Armstrong. Reserves: James O’Reilly, Xavier Numia, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Isaia Walker-Leawere. Sam Henwood, Finlay Christie, Fletcher Smith, Danny Toala.
Stormers: Dillyn Leyds, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Damian de Allende, SP Marais, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Herschel Jantjies, Juarno Augustus, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Chrisvan Zyl, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Scarra Ntubeni, Corne Fourie, Wilco Louw, JD Schickerling, Jaco Coetzee, Justin Phillips, Dan du Plessis, Damian Willemse.