Oh brother... how boys have made NZ
MORE than 40 sets of brothers have worn the All Blacks jersey but the fabulous Barrett boys created history against the Lions when all of them were on the pitch simultaneously during the drawn final Test.
Most recently the Whitelocks – current lock Sam, George and Luke – have played for New Zealand, but not at the same time.
The most famous sets of brothers to play together for the world’s leading rugby nation have arguably been 1987 World Cup winners Gary and Alan Whetton, Colin and Stan Meads, Zinzan and Robin Brooke, Dan and Ian Clarke, and Owen and Ben Franks.
However, that could be about to change with Beauden Barrett nominated to be world player of the year for a second season, Scott Barrett in line to face Wales on Saturday at the Principality Stadium and younger brother Jordie one of the sport’s most audacious talents.
But that’s only half of an incredible story – for there’s another two brothers and three sisters. Here’s all you need to know about the Barrett family... DAD KEVIN BARRETT HAS LIVED UP TO HIS PROMISE TO PRODUCE SOME ALL BLACKS? He sure has! The dairy farmer packed down for the Hurricanes at lock in Super Rugby, but it was with home province Taranaki that ‘Smiley’, as he’s widely known, became a legend with 167 appearances.
Legend has it that when ‘Smiley’ brought down the curtain on his career with Taranaki he was asked what he planned to do next.
“I’m going to go and breed some All Blacks,” came the reply.
Eldest son Kane seemed to be on course to become the first of the dynasty to be capped by New Zealand, but hasn’t played since 2014 after suffering from the lingering effects of concussion while a back-rower with the Blues Super Rugby team.
So, Beauden had the honour of living up to ‘Smiley’s’ promise, when he made his debut against Ireland five years ago. BEAUDEN WAS KEPT OUT OF THE NEW ZEALAND NO.10 JERSEY BY GARETH ANSCOMBE AT THE 2011 UNDER-20 WORLD CUP That’s right. Anscombe, whose father Mark was Kiwi coach, pulled the strings at outside-half as a star-studded team ran it’s way to the title in Italy.
Along the way they thrashed a Wales team, containing a certain Liam Williams, by a record 92-0 in Rovigo with Anscombe converting 11 of their 14 tries for a 22-point haul.
Beauden appeared at full-back in a side that also included Sam Cane, Lima Sopoaga, Charles Piutau, Steven Luatua, TJ Perenara and former Brynteg Comprehensive School and Bridgend Athletic product Rhys Llewellyn at centre.
And it was Beauden who’s gone on to become a New Zealand great, becoming only the fifth All Black to pass 300 points, with Anscombe eventually switching allegiance to and being capped by Wales, qualifying through his Welsh-born mother. SCOTT’S ALL BLACKS DEBUT DIDN’T QUITE GO ACCORDING TO PLAN? He was called up as a replacement for last year’s trip north and scored a try, but it was soured by New Zealand’s Tier One record winning streak of 19 coming to an end as they suffered their first defeat in history against Ireland, in Chicago.
But the 24-year-old Crusaders lock has remained an important member of the All Blacks squad, backing up top pairing Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.
With Retallick missing this tour and injuries taking out other rivals, ‘Scooter’ is set to start against Wales. JORDIE’S NOT WITH THEM THIS TIME? The tall centre or full-back didn’t make the trip because of a shoulder injury, but is tipped to become a major star.
Injury to Ben Smith meant the 20-year-old was thrust into the cauldron in the third Test decider with the Lions in Auckland.
But he took to it like a duck to water with a try and exhibited the exceptional skills and speed which seem to run in the family, with mother Robyn having been a talented athlete, basketball and netball player.
Jordie, like Beauden, is an outstanding golfer, but was also a talented fast bowler before being forced to give up competitive cricket after signing for the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE FAMILY? The youngest of the brothers, 22-year-old back-rower Blake, is a decent club rugby player, while sisters Jenna, Zara and Ella are into swimming, surfing and dancing. SPORT WAS A MAJOR PART OF GROWING UP ON THEIR FARM? The Barrett clan and friends from other farms would spend hours playing rugby or cricket on the back lawn.
“There were no Playstations, we didn’t have those. It was just skills, side-stepping and that,” said dad.
And the focus was always on skill. Once they had mastered kicking and passing with their stronger foot and hand, they worked on the weaker side until it was almost impossible to tell the difference.
“It was pretty awesome. There were five boys growing up and we had the neighbours over as well, so there was always four on four or five on five. There was always a game going on,” recalled Scott.
Beauden said: “If you live on a farm you appreciate you can work countless hours and there’s always work to be done.
“If you relate that to your rugby, it’s always striving to be the best you can be, and that is endless as well.
“Mum would call for dinner and it would always go 10 minutes extra. It would be most likely Jordie flying at you, getting up crying and he would come back that little bit harder next time.”
Jordie said: “I was always just trying to match these guys. The rugby games I was in, I was in tears most times and couldn’t really participate. No-one was supervising and I think I was hung out to dry there.”
Scott recalled: “‘Beaudy’ (Beauden) was always the fittest. Back then he won a lot of the cross-country races in Taranaki.
“Towards the end of high school he got the pace he has now.”
As to how he ended up being big and heavy enough to play in the forwards, 6ft 6in Scott quipped: “I stole food off Beaudy’s plate.” THE BARRETT BOYS COULD HAVE ENDED UP PLAYING FOR IRELAND? That’s right! ‘Smiley’ and Robyn’s