Beauden Barrett suggests nothing is set in stone for Rugby Championship - including his participation
All Blacks ace and expectant father Beauden Barrett is taking a wait and see approach to his availability in the Rugby Championship later this year saying there's "a lot of water to go under the bridge".
His fellow test back Richie Mo'unga has already hit out at a suggestion from one media outlet that some All Blacks were considering pulling out of this year's Rugby Championship for family reasons.
Barrett was interviewed on Gold AM's Country Sport Breakfast and said that he thought "journos are getting a bit excited – have too much time to think of what ifs and all that sort of thing".
But he wasn't definitive about his availability either, only saying that Taranaki's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury on Saturday "could be my last game for a couple of weeks."
"Richie addressed it yesterday, it's all speculation," he said.
"(Barrett's wife) Hannah and I haven't spoken to any media, you're the first I've spoken to about this.
"We don't have much in front of us, in facts and details. It's hard to make a decision.
"As professional rugby players we're required to turn up and perform – it's not every day you get to pull on the black jersey. It's not something you take lightly, that decision.
"This thing is changing every day, it is not even confirmed that South Africa and Argentina will come over. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge."
Barrett said he was excited about the prospect of playing in the afternoon Bledisloe Cup games in New Zealand.
"A big tick all round," said Barrett.
The initial media report suggested that TJ Perenara and Sevu Reece could also be in doubt.
The partners of Mo'unga and Perenara have recently given birth while Reece – like Barrett – is an expectant father.
Mo'unga described the report as "laughable".
"When speculation comes out like that it can be harmful and sad for family members during these uncertain times," he said.
"I'm sure players with newborn babies, soon-to-be-fathers will have conversations and make those decisions in their own time with (All Blacks) coach Ian Foster and the management."
The report said some All Blacks told New Zealand Rugby they don't want to leave their families for up to 10 weeks for the Rugby Championship in Australia, which could include spending Christmas in quarantine.
Foster said discussions were being held with players and NZR was "trying to be responsible employers".
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I so wish we could use BIG words here to say what an absolute %^$# this guy is, but we can't so I won't.
Go to commentsGet world rugby to buy a few Islands in the Mediterranean. Name them Rugby Island #1, #2, #3 etc. All teams are based there all season and as the knockouts progress, losers go home for a few months rest. Sell the TV rights to any and all.
Have an open ballot/lottery each week to fly fans out to fill the stadiums. They get to enter the draw if they pay their taxes and avoid crime which would encourage good social engagement from rugby supporters as responsible citizens. The school kids get in the draw if they are applying themselves at school and reaching their potential.
Or maybe there is some magic way to prioritise both domestic rugby and international rugby by having the same players playing for 12 months of the year...
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