Leinster signing Barrett is no coup if he’s here to sell their secrets
IT was a throwaway line in the news release about Jordie Barrett’s deal to play for Leinster, which highlighted the implications of what amounts to a spying mission with mutual benefits.
‘ I’ll learn so many different things,’ said the supreme All Blacks utility back. ‘It will make me see the game differently and I’ll bring the best bits back to New Zealand rugby and into a Test jersey.’
For the avoidance of any doubt, the presence of such a marquee player in European rugby for six months is undoubtedly a hugely positive development for the sport in these parts. The youngest of the three Barrett brothers in the All Blacks squad at 27 is a phenomenal talent close to the peak of his powers. Signing him is a remarkable coup for Leinster.
However. It is interesting to ponder who benefits most from this short-term arrangement, which will start in December and run until the end of next season.
There is an intellectual property factor. Barrett will offer so much to his temporary employers and Irish team-mates; both the established Test stars and the rookies who will hang off his every word. He is a magnificent player and they will learn so much from him.
BuTas he says, the learning will be two-way, to such an extent that he might as well turn up in Dublin dressed in a dark suit and shades, with an earpiece in and armed with a walkie-talkie. This is spying in plain sight, with the other side footing the bill. Barrett intends to ‘ bring the best bits’ back to New Zealand — and there will be plenty of best bits.
Leinster are arguably the bestcoached team in the world and have been for quite some time. There is no sign of that changing any time soon, now that Jacques Nienaber — mastermind of South Africa’s World Cup triumph — is on board. Barrett can gain insights about the methods and strategies of Ireland and the Springboks in one place. How useful to him and the All Blacks.
Of course, it is a sign of respect for the outstanding Irish system that he has shunned the option of joining all the other Kiwis in Japan for their well-paid sabbaticals, in order to add layers to his game and his knowledge in Dublin. Perhaps it should be regarded as a welcome sign that rugby is gradually shedding its culture of secrecy. But despite the Irish union funding and controlling provincial business, it is debatable whether Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will see this as a win-win.
Barrett is a box- office acquisition, but Leinster hardly need any more of those, given that they sold out 82,000- capacity Croke Park in about 36 hours ahead of Northampton’s visit for the Champions Cup semi-final next month.
Frankly, they won’t even need him very often on the field either, such is their perennial dominance over most opponents, but he’ll be a handy asset when the Test contingent are being rested and for major knockout fixtures.
As a top professional, he is bound to commit body and soul to the cause while he is around, but it will be intriguing to see if Barrett lives up to his sky-high billing. Often, the best imports from the southern hemisphere who have come to the north are those who are still building their careers or don’t quite have the cache of the highest-profile superstars — who are so well-known and face opponents hell-bent on cutting them down to size.
Seeing one of the great All Blacks of the era play so close to home is a treat to be savoured. But there is more to all this than meets the eye and time will tell who takes the most out of such a shock-and-awe deal.