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WATCH: The Barrett Bolter that the ABs need
By RugbyPass
June 24th is rapidly approaching, so naturally it's time for all of us armchair selectors to start picking our All Blacks squad. Number one on the list of likely bolters for (at least) the 23-man squad has to be Jordie Barrett. Having starred for Canterbury and the New Zealand Under 20s in 2016 and then carried the bags on the end of season tour, Jordie’s form in the Hurricanes backline has arguably been second only to his big brother Beauden.
Only two questions really remain: will he get a start for the All Blacks? And, if so, which position will he play? It’s hard to imagine Ben Smith making way at full-back and Damian McKenzie sits consistently high in most of the competition stats tables. And at second-five, test incumbent Ryan Crotty has been rock steady in an unbeaten Crusaders outfit, although if Steve Hansen prefers spark to solidity, the younger Barrett could easily get the surprise nod.
Adding to the prospects of a Barrett-Barrett 10-12 or 10-15 combo is the All Blacks selectors’ long-standing penchant for familial selection; the Whitelocks, Franks’, Saveas, Brookes, Maugers, and many more will attest to that. Most ABs fans would agree that on current form we should be taking as many Barretts as we can get.
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Latest Comments
Thanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
Go to commentsif the clock could be turned back, Jones should still have been given the top job, to be assisted by Farrell, Borthwick, Catt, & Rowntree, and after 2019 he should have been replaced by Farrell.
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