[ad_1]
How come Super Rugby featured fullback Aotearoa doesn’t get the number 15 jersey in the first All Blacks round of the year?
An embarrassment of riches and a desire to maintain his structure with Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett as dual playmakers was new coach Ian Foster’s best explanation, after he named Jordie Barrett at No. 14 to face the Wallabies. in Wellington on Sunday. Interestingly, it means that neither of the Barretts is in their preferred spot.
“Out of habit, I will find myself backing away and have to remind myself to go back to the wing, like Rieko [Ioane] It’s been all week, ”joked Barrett the youngest.
Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
The Hurricanes’ standout fullback will wear No. 14 on Sunday against the Wallabies.
At the first press conference on the appointment of Foster’s team, 10 months after he was elevated to the top job, Jordie at 14 was the hottest topic of discussion and the head scraper for some.
READ MORE:
* The All Blacks pick Dave Rennie didn’t see coming
* With the baby on the way, the All Blacks star considered skipping the Rugby Championship
* Road to Redemption: O’Connor will start at No. 10 against All Blacks
* 5000 tickets remaining for the Bledisloe Cup opening
The 23-year-old will play his 18th test, and the third on the right wing. The Barrett brothers teamed up at 14 and 15 once before, in a 63-0 win over Canada in Oita at last year’s World Cup.
ALEX LIU / THINGS
All Blacks coach Ian Foster says the more Jordie Barrett can get into the game, the better.
“We know he’s in 15 form, but if you look at some of the games he’s played on the wing, he’s been outstanding. We will have to figure that out. We’re not saying he’s a wing who can’t play 15, ”Foster said.
Barrett was the Hurricanes’ most influential player as a fullback in Super Rugby Aotearoa. His height and immense presence under the ball high, his powerful defense, his ability to appear in the right place in attack and his booming boot made him the complete footballer. Not only that, but their goal kicks from difficult angles under pressure helped them win big games against the Blues and Crusaders.
Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
Beauden Barrett and Jordie Barrett will reunite after helping Taranaki lift Canterbury’s Ranfurly Shield, but in different positions.
That also raised the question: who will kick Barretts or Mo’unga goals at Sky Stadium? “We are going to fix that this afternoon. We could have a kickoff, ”Foster said, with a smile.
Mo’unga will likely be the first to tee off, and Jordie made the longest shots.
As for 83 Test veteran and former World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett, who started slowly at 15 for the Blues and then found his niche again at 10, it was a case of continuing last year’s combo that started with Steve. Hansen.
“Two very influential players for us. They really grew in their game last year and there were great signs there, ”Foster said.
“As this team is new, as we learn what we want to do, having two great decision makers in the park will help guide us.”
Hagen Hopkins / Getty Images
Richie Mo’unga will lead the All Blacks on Sunday with Jordie Barrett up close.
Beauden Barrett still wants to play the top five, Foster said. Mo’unga’s way of running the ship for the champion Crusaders is still too good to resist.
“Probably the 15th in the country has been Jordie, and he’s playing, and you’ll find him a lot in the back field anyway. We believe we get the best of both worlds. “
It also meant bad luck for Damian McKenzie and Will Jordan, two excellent defenders who lost on the 23rd.
The Barrett brothers last combined for Taranaki just a few weeks ago and helped pinch the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury. It was clearly a selling point for Jordie.
“Any chance to start with the All Blacks is huge and I’m not going to fight for that with my brother … [I’ll be] feeding on it and trying to instinctively react and show up in different places will be nice. “
On the other topic of conversation, Rieko Ioane received the number 13, forcing Anton Lienert-Brown to the bench and Jack Goodhue to 12, and George Bridge retained the number 11 jersey he wore in the defeat of the World Cup semifinal. World against England.
It meant Caleb Clarke’s impressive testing debut will roll off the bench, along with two other newcomers, Hoskins Sotutu and Tupou Vaa’i, the trio that will become All Blacks 1186, 1187 and 1188.
Michael Bradley / Getty Images
In shape, Blues center Rieko Ioane got the nod at No. 13 for Sunday’s Bledisloe.
In the most difficult selection area for Foster, Ioane demanded a spot in the center with his dynamic form for the Blues, while Bridge’s experience earned him the nod over Clarke.
The package was easier for new panel Foster, Grant Fox and John Plumtree, with abrasive ball carrier and defender Shannon Frizell getting the nod on the blind flank.
Foster said the 23 was not chosen with the Wallabies in mind, given how unpredictable the first test of the year will be for both sides. He was expecting a fast and furious test, as the World Cup semi-final defeat to England almost a year ago was not in his preparation.
“We have not taken advantage of that experience at all. The learnings from that have gone and gone, and we separated it during the first few months of the year.
“We don’t need that burden to feel excited and pressured to play for the All Blacks. The shirt demands it anyway. “
All the black people: Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (c), Shannon Frizell, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuungafasi, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Bookings: Dane Coles, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke.
