The curious case of Beauden Barrett

Didn't really like Barrett going for the drop goal or taking the points at 16-6. That's usually what the opposition do against us, though more and more they are trying to kick for touch and score. A bit too conservative for my liking. It almost feels like an overreaction to Wellington.

Barrett wasn't perfect at Twickenham but at least he tried to play a tactical game in the conditions. His goalkicking, which was a liability a few months ago, won us that test. When Barrett attempts a dropkick you know he is trying to show he can be a true five-eighths. He's never going to be the player that Fox, Mehrts, or Carter were. The question is whether he can be a World Cup winning version of Carlos Spencer. I agree that Williams doesn't play well alongside him. Williams was much more successful outside of Cruden. Cruden was more of a pass-first first five. He didn't use his running game as much as Barrett does. Barrett doesn't make great decisions from phase play but he is good at set-piece plays and in broken play or counter-attack situations his playmaking is excellent. One thing I'll say about Barrett's performance at Twickenham is that it gave me more confidence in his ability in a tight test match than Wellington or the Lion series did.

Agree with everything you say. I'd like to see Moounga given a start this week in the heat of a big battle tho. Injuries at rwc occur and he would benefit from the experience. As you say dmac has the stats to make a case to retain him...BB on the bench??

Thanks for this. Funny that you never mention how he crabs across field, telegraphing passes all the time. It's his pace and backing up that seems to smooth over that negative.

thanks for that snippet

Barrett is an exceptional rugby player, im from the Taranaki Region and a big Canes Fan but i have had reservations about him being #10 for the AB's no one i know agrees with me so i enjoyed reading this article. Ben Smith is critical at FB outside BB, we saw this when Smith was injured against the British Lions last year. Another thing is that he seems to have bad goal kicking days for the AB's in his Hurricanes home ground. Which is unusual considering he plays the most on that ground. I prefer Mounga to start with BB at FB and maybe a loss against Ireland this week will force a review, otherwise I can't see it happening. If the status quo remains then the best midfield combo outside BB would have Goodhue at centre with Crotty, ALB or Laumape at #12. A solid traditional midfield that holds the defense line, can punch holes on attack or sets up the outside backs. SBW can't really start if he is ineffective outside BB and should be a impact player coming on with Mounga to change the dynamic on attack.

Thanks Willie. I have been very fortunate to be able to watch him play live regularly and he is the sort of player that puts bums on seats, such as the Cullens and Lomus before him. He is a wonderful player. We here in NZ have been very fortunate with the calibre of players, Carter of course, Cruden, Sopoaga in recent times and continue to see further quality in Dmac and Mo'unga, along with some emerging players like Plummer who caught the eye in Mitre 10 this year. We really are living in a golden period in NZ and while such debates continue I hope we can all remember to enjoy it while it lasts.

I have to agree with the general view that bb is best at fullback. He is not our best option at 1st 5. Rm was by far the standout player in the super rugby and has shown he will bring that to test level with time. What noone is mentioning is the all black tactical kicking came a distant second against england. It was wayward and england was constantly repaying with interest. Only the set piece saved the abs on the weekend. In conditions like they played in why not adjust the team at last minute. In the wet you need RM, SBW, crotty and co. In the dry let dmc, bb and co run themselves silly.

Agree with that Paul, I think Mo'anga (spelling) can manage the game better than Barrett, Dmac to me is very effective as an impact player. But Barrett at Fullback offers more than Dmac.

Very nice read Willie. I suppose it could be a question of the sum of his pars, what is the best way to utilise his talents. I would suggest if he played exclusively as a fullback he might have been a bigger star? Might have.

I agree with this. Barrett has scored 10 of his 24 tries v Australia and yet just 1 try v England, Ireland and the Lions combined.

I don't really envy Barrett. He is a great player for sure and deserved the world player of the year nod two years ago but if try scoring is the competitive advantage he holds why has he only scored 1 try against the top NH sides in his career? In 5 games v England no tries. In 3 games v the Lions 0 tries and in 4 games v Ireland just one try. 12 games against top NH sides and just 1 try. In the same time he has played Australia 15 times and scored 12 tries. I think there is a big case for saying that only certain types of games really suits him.

Always thought BBBBB was a natural 15 who learned to be a 10.

Ben got to love the way he got in behind Goodhue to drive him forward 20 metres over the weekend.

I dont see B Smith as that fast...Over 20 I would have Dmac...40 Reiko...50+ BB

Dmac led the line breaks, Line break assists, Tacklers beaten, offloads, run meters in the England test in 60 odd mins so hard to bench him. Mounga did not function well when he came on and tbh BB was caught out of position twice at FB so I think what they have is as good as it gets. Dmac'x stats dont include the chip kick he did and regathered and he rescued at least 2 dangerous siyuations with his pace and elusiveness. I think too many look at Dmac like they look at BBs goal kicking...forget the brilliant but remember the 1 off day. I think Mounga needs to wait to be a starter until after the WC

Willie I think your preview misses one essential factor in every No 10's game - simply, the impact that is provided by the forwards. The 10 can possess all the attributes that we have seen from both Carter and BB and yet both, have suffered when their forwards have been put on the back-foot. Good clean go-forward ball delivered on a platter to the HB who then sends it on to the No10 with oodles of time to think about, consider and then reconsider their options, makes the No10 look like they themselves, play their rugby with a 6th sense outlook to see where the opposition defence stands, how far away is the closest opponent, where his own team-mates are waiting, is it a pass, a long kick for territory, a short over-the-top kick, a grubber kick......you see, all these decisions can be very simply answered if, your forward pack provides the platform to do so. If they don't, then chances are, the No10 will have milli-seconds to catch his HB's pass and react because, he doesn't have any time to catch and think. As Hansen has mentioned earlier this year, some No10s have played their career behind a rolls-royce pack while others haven't. The emphasis for Hansen, is to find the performance that is played under severe duress behind a forward pack that is not of rolls-royce material and yet, still manages to manufacture a win. Then, place that No10 behind the rolls-royce pack and then watch that performance. It really comes down to a key basic provision in any team sport - any player is only as good as his/her team-mates allow them to be - and that goes for every position on the paddock including No10. So, we can praise or critique BB or RM or DM or any No10 for that matter but at the end of the day, such reviews will probably be conditional upon how well, their forwards performed to give the HB the ball on a platter for delivery, to the No10.

In someways that game was a great example of what some find so maddening about him Denis. He showed he has a very good tactical kicking game but next time it’s needed it’s hard to know if it will be there. 10 or 15 will be a debate around him but lord we are blessed to have him!

Those are my thoughts to Hoy. Cruden was very good at using his running game to threaten the line & then pop a pass to his support. BB uses his running game to try & breach the line himself. It is interesting that Laumape seems to have success running off BB though. Perhaps again just a combination thing & experience at reading BB.

Last weekend was possibly BB best all round effort. It was away from home, very wet, full house at Twickers and the home team started brilliantly. Once the All Blacks started to get some ball, Barrett's influence started the comeback. A few digs with the ball in hand that got half a metre or so over the advantage line, wipers kicks that drew praise from the English commentators, tackling, harassing, scampering back to support the back three. And kicked the winning points, just. He's fast, tough, smart, super fit and winning the next RWC will be made easier if Beauden Barrett runs out in the 10 jersey for the knock out matches.