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Berrick Barnes says sayonara to the NSW Waratahs this weekend and the Wallabies utility says he’s leaving with no regrets.
Barnes, 27, remains hopeful, if not overly optimistic, about adding to his 51 Test caps this year before heading to Japan in October.
But the one-time Wallabies vice-captain says regardless if he features in new national coach Ewen McKenzie’s plans he’ll look back on his rugby career in Australia with fond memories.
“I got a lot of opportunities,” Barnes said on Thursday.
“Obviously I’ve had my fair share of injuries and ups and downs, but footy’s a lot like life – you have your good times and your bad times and I’ve been fortunate enough to have been through a few.
“If anything, I’ve learned a bit of resilience. Sometimes you’re the flavour of the month and sometimes you’re not. Sometimes your team’s going well and sometimes it’s not.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate playing the amount of games I have and been lucky to play at two really good clubs and lucky enough to play in a Wallabies jumper. Not just once but a fair few times, which is a big honour.”
Barnes considers the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, where he made his Test debut and scored with his very first touch of the ball against Japan, as probably the highlight of his career to date.
At 21 and stepping into the five-eighth hot seat for the injured Stephen Larkham, Barnes was the youngest member of the Wallabies’ World Cup squad.
“That was a special time to be involved in,” he said.
“I know a lot of players there who played in a few World Cups and I think even though we lost it was one of their favourite ones, just with the way it was organised and you actually had fun playing footy so it was good.
“Just any time you get to be involved in the World Cup is good, playing in those big games.
“And just to be a part of the Lions series, obviously not getting to play much of a part, but I think it’ll be something I look back on and think it’s a nice little one to have ticked off.”
Barnes plans to return to Australia before the 2015 Super Rugby season and hopes to feature in a third World Cup that year in England.
But despite being available for this year’s Rugby Championship, he’s half expecting McKenzie to overlook him in favour of other players who are staying on.
Fittingly, Barnes’ farewell game for the Waratahs comes against his old Queensland Reds outfit at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
“It’s a nice way to finish up at this time,” he said.
“Look, you never know when your last game’s going to be, period. So it’s a good one to be involved in and especially for all the boys to try and leave a bit of a mark on 2013.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.