Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Jordie Barrett's midfield move 'not a matter of if, it's a matter of when'

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Just when it looks like Jordie Barrett has well and truly locked down the No 15 jersey for New Zealand and come of age in the black jersey, the 24-year-old has revealed he’s not sold on playing out his career at fullback.

ADVERTISEMENT

Barrett – who made his All Blacks debut when he was just 20 years old – first burst onto the scene for Canterbury in the 2016 ITM Cup and was named New Zealand’s Provincial Player of the Year. That season, he made six appearances at fullback but it was his performances in the midfield that really stood out and the youngest Barrett brother was selected as an apprentice on the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour.

The following season, Barrett made his debut for the Hurricanes in the No 15 jersey and that’s where he has since been primarily utilised at both Super Rugby and international level.

Video Spacer

Former All Blacks prop John Afoa reflects on his career

Video Spacer

Former All Blacks prop John Afoa reflects on his career

In 2021, Barrett was ostensibly going head-to-head with Damian McKenzie to lock down the fullback role for the All Blacks and he emerged as the first choice in the position by the middle of the year and started there in NZ’s four biggest games of the season against South Africa (twice), Ireland and France.

Speaking on the latest episode of James Marshall’s What a Lad podcast, however, Barrett has confirmed that a positional change into the midfield is very much on the cards in the near future.

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t spent a few hours in this quarantine hotel thinking about my transition into 12 – something I might do at some stage, whether it’s this year or next year or further down the track,” Barrett said.

“I was a 12 growing up, [it was where I played] most of my footy. I feel like my skillset suits that. Who knows? I guess I’ve got the next month and a half to figure out which avenue I’ll go down but look, I’m happy with the way I’m going at 15 but got a serious eye to playing 12 at some stage so probably not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The midfield is perhaps the biggest problem area for the All Blacks at present, with former coach Steve Hansen struggling to decide on a first-choice combination heading into the last World Cup, and his successor, Ian Foster, also seemingly unsure of the best pairing to carry NZ through to the next tournament in 2023.

While David Havili was the most frequently selected No 12 for the team this season, he was constantly asked to truck the ball up in the midfield when his game is one based less on power and more on subtle skills and playmaking.

Barrett, to his credit, boasts a similarly balanced skillset to Havili but also backs that up with a solid frame and could be a revolution in the midfield at international level.

It’s a move that would also make sense for the Hurricanes, who could then utilise both Jackson Garden-Bachop and up-and-coming utility Ruben Love in the same backline if Barrett were to shift from fullback to the midfield.

ADVERTISEMENT

Barrett has been used across the backline at all levels of the game and while he clearly possesses the talent to play in multiple positions, the focus on one role has helped him grow as a player. Perhaps now is the time to see how he can grow in a position where NZ are somewhat short of fool-proof options.

Ironically, Damian McKenzie also joined the What a Lad podcast recently and confirmed he too was seriously considering a position switch.

Listen to Jordie Barrett’s interview on the What A Lad podcast below:

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
R
Roy 1058 days ago

Yeah, 12 would suit him.

He doesn't have electric feet or pace, but intelligent lines, good defence, good distribution.

I think he'd organise the defense well and pick good lines, plus he's physical.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'World-class finisher' offers All Blacks selection solution Mark Tele'a scores a double at Allianz Stadium
Search