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Ian Foster dismisses concerns over Beauden Barrett's goal-kicking

(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster isn’t concerned about Beauden Barrett’s goal-kicking form after he missed three of his six shots at goal in Sunday’s 38-21 win over the Wallabies in Perth.

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In the absence of incumbent playmaker Richie Mo’unga, Barrett was back in the All Blacks No 10 jersey for the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship encounter at Optus Stadium over the weekend.

The 30-year-old impressed with ball in hand as he played a key role in younger brother Jordie’s opening try and kept the Wallabies on their toes defensively to help the All Blacks stroll to a Bledisloe Cup clean sweep and move to the top of the Rugby Championship table.

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Ian Foster reacts to dominant All Blacks win over Wallabies in Perth

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Ian Foster reacts to dominant All Blacks win over Wallabies in Perth

Barrett was also entrusted as the team’s goal-kicker, and began his duties in that role with aplomb as he successfully nailed his first three shots inside the opening 20 minutes.

However, things began to unravel off the kicking tee for the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, who failed to land his following three attempts.

While a success rate of 50 percent isn’t great for test match goal-kickers, it isn’t entirely uncommon either, but what raised eyebrows about Barrett’s kicking display was how he missed his last two kicks from such close range.

After missing the conversion for David Havili’s first try two minutes into injury time in the first half, Barrett failed to convert Will Jordan’s 55th minute try from a slight right-hand angle.

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That was followed by an inexplicable missed conversion attempt from a slight left-hand angle in the 62nd minute after Havili scored his 80-metre intercept try.

Barrett wasn’t alone in his goal-kicking struggles, as Damian McKenzie, who took over New Zealand’s goal-kicking duties late in the second half, missed both his conversion attempts, albeit from tricky sideline angles.

Wallabies No 10 Noah Lolesio also endured a rough day off the boot, kicking one from two, with his missed penalty in the 28th minute coming from right out in front of the posts.

Speaking to media after the match, Foster suggested the afternoon sun in Western Australia may have played a part in the misfortune the Kiwi and Australian goal-kickers experienced, not that it worried him too much, though.

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“There was very little breeze, but there was a bright thing in the sky that might have got in the eyes of the goal-kickers of both teams,” Foster said when asked about Barrett’s goal-kicking performance.

“Clearly it wasn’t the night for either kickers, but, particularly in Beaudy’s case, if he had to get one of the two things right of goal-kicking or playing really well, I’m really pleased he got the right one right.

“I thought he handled the game really, really well. Great decision-making, particularly early, and really calm when we were under a bit of pressure with the [red] card [against Jordie Barrett].

“I think he showed his class. The goal-kicking will come right.”

With Mo’unga set to remain in New Zealand as he awaits the birth of his second child before then undergoing a two-week quarantine upon his imminent arrival in Queensland, Barrett is set for a prolonged period in the All Blacks No 10 jersey.

As such, Barrett will likely have the chance to amend his goal-kicking woes as early as next week when the All Blacks take on Los Pumas at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.

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Tom 5 hours ago
Will Bristol's daredevil 'Bears-ball' deliver the trophy they crave?

Also a Bristol fan and echo your sentiments.


I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.


I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.


Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.


“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

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