Jordie on . . . friends, rivals, countrymen Error over return of Irish prop, says NZR
Jordie Barrett is what you might call an old 25. The All Blacks fullback has been through his share of highs and lows during a test career that’s now, remarkably, into its sixth season. The result is a healthy perspective and ever-so care-worn approach that belies his years.
So, a reflective chat with the youngest of the All Blacks’ three Barrett brothers at the team hotel this week, midway through the buildup for an opening July test against Ireland that is all sorts of interesting, serves up illuminating fodder.
The young man has developed an informed outlook, and it shines through as the 36-test towering backline presence – he stands 1.96m, with the sort of length normally reserved for NBA athletes – ponders, among other things, the rise of Ireland as a legitimate international force, his apparent positional prevarication which has taken a fresh twist and the presence of Will Jordan in what shapes as a mighty tussle for the All Blacks No 15 jersey down the line.
Let’s start with the latter first. Jordan may be out for the first two tests of this Ireland series because of Covid-19, but Barrett is as aware as anyone the talented Crusaders fullback offers a compelling alternative at the back.
‘‘I don’t live under a rock,’’ he says with a smile. ‘‘I see him play every week. He has been arguably one of the best players in New Zealand and is in the same position as me. I’m good mates with Will, and we have a strong relationship.’’
The fact of the matter is head coach Ian Foster appears to have reached a compromise with his two talented fullbacks. He wants, all things being equal, to play them both, and for now (and last season) that’s inevitably going to mean Jordan switches to the wing.
And here’s where Barrett’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the Hurricanes comes in. He made no secret of his desire to play at No 12 and spent a good chunk of the campaign at second five-eighths where he performed, for the most part, effectively. It was an intriguing switcher for a talented young man who possesses the skills to play pretty much anywhere in the backline.
Barrett was bullish about seeing himself as a No 12 in the future during Super Rugby and his older brother appeared to back that up when he said: ‘‘He wants to be a 12. He knows he’s taking a punt but it’s a position where he thinks he’s going to be in the long-term. I support his decision. It’s a ballsy one.’’
But it’s notable that Barrett’s approach appears to have taken a 180 now he’s joined the All Blacks camp. Foster is on the record with his reluctance to push him there at test level, and clearly he’s had a word.
‘‘I certainly enjoyed it,’’ Barrett said this week. ‘‘It was a little frustrating finishing in that quarterfinal, and I’ve closed that book now, and had a good month to reflect and set myself up mentally for a full international season. I’m enjoying being back at 15, I love it there, and I just want to become a world-class fullback.’’
You probe. Does he still see a shift to 12 in his future at some point?
‘‘I’m willing to let that play out over time, but I’m just wanting to put my best foot forward at 15 here. I love to play fullback for this team, and that’s where all my energy is going.’’
Fair enough. Barrett has plenty on his plate in the form of a quality Irish outfit.
And fullback is clearly where he’s going to strut his stuff against a team he has a mountain of respect for.
‘‘Gone are the days when we just put Ireland and those teams into the northern hemisphere bracket, where they play a high-pressure game, and you use words like boring, and contestable kicking. I think it’s completely the other way round,’’ he says.
‘‘They almost play the most attacking game in the world, and have the ability to snap into two different styles. They can play fast, they can play slow, and they’re good at both.
‘‘That comes with so many challenges. They move the ball so well, and from 1-15 some of those big guys have got some outstanding skillsets.
‘‘What we learnt, not just last year from Ireland and other teams, but even years before, is they’ve got a great ability to shift the ball to different areas and then snap into a high-pressure kicking game. It’s hard to deal with.’’
You certainly can’t accuse the All Blacks of being unaware of the challenge. Barrett was at fullback last November when Andy Farrell’s Ireland played the New Zealanders off the park in Dublin en route to a 29-20 victory – their third in the last five against the men in black.
He feels a strong connection with the Irish (the Barrett brothers spent part of their childhood living there, and retain family ties in the republic) and says he’s in good physical condition and hugely motivated to take his game to a new level in 2022.
‘‘I felt I had a good year in ‘21 (he featured in 13 of the 15 tests, and started nine) and I want to keep demanding plenty of myself. I feel like it’s a great launching pad, and I’m wanting to stamp my authority on this series.’’
That’s a mindset, adds Barrett, that’s necessary in the All Blacks where opponents invariably ‘‘go up another 10-15%’’, which has to be the expectation from the Irish, searching for their first victory on New Zealand soil.
‘‘They’ll try to suck the life out of us and limit our opportunities,’’ he says. It’s important not to allow them to get feel comfortable . . . if I can dominate those battles in the air, and dictate that backfield where they play chess with their kicking game . . . it’s one of the little battles that can amount to so much in the bigger picture.’’
You wonder if this ever gets old, sharing this All Blacks adventure with his two brothers? All three will start tonight, with Beauden at 10, and Scott a contentious choice to run out at No 6.
‘‘I got a little reminder during the squad naming. I guess you don’t get as many texts as when you’re first named. Mum sent a message just reaffirming how special it is for us three boys to be playing together. It certainly doesn’t grow old.’’
New Zealand Rugby has conceded an error was made in allowing Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman to return to the field of play against the Mā ori All Blacks on Wednesday.
Loughman was visibly dazed after carrying the ball into contact in just the second minute of play, and fell over when he tried to regain his feet.
He then had to be supported by referee Wayne Barnes to stand up, and was subsequently helped off by and Irish medical staff member.
Under World Rugby rules, players who suffer an obvious concussion should be immediately removed from the game and observe a 12-day stand-down period.
As host union for the Mā ori All Blacks-Ireland clash, NZ Rugby was ultimately responsible for the management of the fixture and yesterday issued a statement saying Loughman should not have been permitted to return.
New Zealand Rugby has conducted a review of the HIA process during the match, NZR medical manager Karen Rasmussen said in a statement.
‘‘As a result of this review NZR believes Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman should not have been allowed back on to the field during the first half.
‘‘While NZR stands by the HIA processes in place and is satisfied that player welfare is the number one priority for medical staff at the match, we have identified a gap in communications, which meant critical video evidence was not fully accounted for as part of the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) process undertaken by the independent match day medical team.
‘‘We will be reinforcing the full HIA process and protocols for the remainder of the series.’’
The Loughman incident was strongly condemned by UK-based player welfare group Progressive Rugby.
‘‘Both are protocol and process fails,’’ Progressive Rugby posted on its website.
‘‘Protocol because they failed to remove the player immediately, and process because the HIA, in place to protect the player, has failed to identify damage to the brain that was clearly there.
‘‘These incidents are not only potentially catastrophic for the player, it sends an appalling message to the wider rugby community and to those considering becoming part of it.
‘‘In a week where the governing body has blown the player welfare trumpet, you would think the medical team would have been primed and ready to be super-cautious?’’