Jordie Barrett (left), Scott Barrett (centre) Beauden Barrett (right) Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Peter About «Mahony does not appear to need any help in making the sleigh, but he may be advised to study the work of Jimmy Ormond, a former seamstress from Leicestershire and Surrey, if he is not already familiar.
Ormond played two Test matches for England and is credited with providing the immortal answer to Mark Waugh on his debut at the Oval in 2001. When Waugh, the younger twin brother of then captain Steve, sized up an easy target and declared that Ormond wasn't good enough for the top level, the response was swift: «Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family «.
Oh. O'Mahony, who during Ireland's win over New Zealand called Sam Cane «just a Richie McCaw a**» and chastised Scotland scrum-half Ali Price for «moaning and whining» last weekend, would have admired the wit and brevity. And, unthinkably, Beauden Barrett could become a possible victim of the Ormond fighter in the quarter-finals of the world championship.
Barrett, now 32, won back-to-back World Player of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017. Even if it seems like ancient history — both Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje were shortlisted both years as evidence of England's brighter form — the electric, versatile back seemed almost unplayable. These days, however, it could be argued that Beauden is the most unnecessary of the three Barrett brothers in the same All Blacks team.
Scott, 29, starts against Ireland and is a mobile, tough and skilful striker who could slide into the back row when Sam Whitelock comes off the bench. The 26-year-old Geordie's move from full-back to center is one of the key selection changes (along with new props and Shannon Frizell at blindside flanker) that has revived New Zealand after an unstable period between 2021 and 2022, which saw four defeats in five Tests the impetus for a radical overhaul of the coaching team under Ian Foster. Scott and Jordy are pack and back row coordinators respectively. Is Beauden a fundamental player these days, given Richie Mo'unga's influence at fly-half and the wealth of three-back options available to the All Blacks? After the World Cup, he will also take the Toyota Verblitz to Japan.
Richie Mo'unga is New Zealand's best midfielder and kicker. Photo: Paul Childs/Reuters
All that said, and while it may seem like a significant move from the best player on the planet to third in the family, big brother Barrett remains crucial to New Zealand's bid to beat Ireland and reach the semi-finals as an eighth seed. times in nine tournaments. On this week's episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, James Parsons, the All Blacks hooker who played with Beauden in the Blues, agonized over the round 23 squad that Foster might select, with a particular focus on back three. At one point, before laughing, he suggested splitting the bench four-by-four to squeeze in Leicester Faingaanuka as well as Mark Telea, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie. Parsons hailed Barrett's «short kick game» and how it can help tease Ireland's defense down the field while creating enough doubt to slow down their line speed. However, he also explained that the only realistic way to combine Faingaanuka, Telea and Jordan into one lineup is to start the latter at full-back… at the expense of Barrett.
As a result of Telea's mysterious misdeed, Foster made a potentially difficult task easier, and a bristling and busy Fainga'anuku found himself on the left flank and a gliding Jordan on the right. Barrett, a starting half-back in all three matches of last year's series against Ireland, sits between those two at full-back, where he has been all year. His playing partnership with Mo'unga in the 10-15 format, which first aired in 2019 in the run-up to the last World Cup, remains a controversial topic but was unleashed in devastating fashion on South Africa in July. That night in Auckland, Barrett's array of chips, kicks and strikes tormented the Springboks, helping to strike Frizell and Jordan to form the basis of a 35-20 triumph. Ireland's defence, with O'Mahony threatening, will be able to swarm in and wreck things if the All Blacks don't mix things up with the boot.
Barrett burst onto the scene as the mercury Swiss army knife became the stand-in for the all-conquering New Zealand team that eventually won the World Cup. As an international he matured and developed, although one brilliant breakthrough from his 22 appearances against Uruguay, which showcased his stunning acceleration and his distinctive gait, hinted at the talents that characterized his emergence. On this occasion, Barrett attempted to connect with Damian McKenzie, but a cheeky shot with the outside of his boot was deflected off the dead ball line; it's a near miss.
New Zealand, playing in the unusual role of underdogs against Ireland, can afford few of those on Saturday night at the Stade de France. A great performance from Barrett's older brother would have been welcome.
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