Bledisloe Cup rugby: All Blacks star Beauden Barrett reveals additional motivation ahead of Wallabies clash

All Blacks star playmaker Beauden Barrett has to endure a different form of nerves before the game ahead of the third round of the Bledisloe Cup.

Barrett is in Australia with the All Blacks for the Tri Nations, hastily renamed from Rugby Championship following the withdrawal of the Springboks, which begins Saturday against the Wallabies in Sydney.

Leaving home, Barrett was forced to say goodbye to his one-month-old daughter Billie Rose and his wife Hannah for five weeks, making the journey doubly difficult.

Barrett says that being the first time he’s left his daughter behind, it’s a tough situation.

“I know he’s in good hands with Han doing a fantastic job and with the support of his family around him,” says Barrett.

“I guess it motivates me a lot more to make being here with the team worthwhile. It’s my reason, my purpose and my why to train hard and do everything for them.

“It’s difficult, but it’s a sacrifice that we all had to make.”

While Barrett has set up camp in Australia without his ideal support group, he comes after an impressive performance in the second round of the Bledisloe Cup. Returning from an Achilles problem that kept him out of the opening test, Barrett was one of New Zealand’s best on the field, particularly on broken play.

He says he was delighted to be playing in the All Blacks jersey again.

“I feel much better than in the previous weeks with my little inconvenience that I have been working hard to overcome. I was really, clearly excited to be at Eden Park.

“It’s great to run the ball in hand and play the game that I love.”

Considering he’s looking to make the trip worthwhile on the field, an even better Barrett running for the last two Bledisloe Cup rounds and two games against Argentina is certainly in question.

“I just have to take it one day at a time and keep growing as a player, keep improving and not get too far ahead because it’s an exciting challenge ahead. At the moment, conditions here are not too much.” great so we could take on a football in wet weather, “he said.

Thanks to the most recent restructuring of the tournament, Barrett will be home and be with his family on Christmas Day.

Two of Barrett’s international teammates have also recently joined their families.

In late August, runner TJ Perenara and his wife Greer welcomed a daughter, one day after the first five Richie Mo’unga and his wife Sophie had a daughter Billie.

Forwards Ardie Savea and Nepo Laulala are currently out of the team on paternity leave. Savea is scheduled to rejoin the team within the next week, while Laulala’s travel date is unknown at this time.