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'Nana Mary will be all over it' - Barrett brothers do granny proud
By Ben Spratt
Brothers Scott, Jordie and Beauden Barrett are ready to make their family proud with a “dream” trio of historic starts for New Zealand against France.
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The siblings were in the All Blacks squad for the third Test against the British and Irish Lions, but they will now become the first set of three brothers to start for their side this weekend.
World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden is confident that his brothers will rise to the occasion, making their grandmother in the stands a very proud woman.
“She clips all the articles – probably only the good ones – and she takes photos off the TV and so on,” he told reporters. “She’s all over it, that’s Nana Mary. She’ll be there on Saturday, too.
“It’s a very proud moment for me and my family.
“It’s one of those childhood goals or dreams you have when you’re running round the back lawn pretending to be Christian Cullen or Tana Umaga, or whoever it was back then, and it’s come true. I can’t wait to get out there with them.”
HISTORY! The Barrett brothers are the first trio of brothers to ever be selected in the starting XV for the #AllBlacks.
FULL TEAM: https://t.co/VlNUEqpge3#NZLvFRA ???? pic.twitter.com/MQ6RKWr1rT
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 6, 2018
One man who will not be on the pitch at Eden Park is injured lock Brodie Retallick, but coach Steve Hansen is expecting to have the Chiefs man back within six weeks.
“He hasn’t got a pectoral tear, which is great news,” said Hansen. “He has a small fracture, right in underneath his pec.
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“He’ll be out for probably six weeks, which is good news considering a tear of his pectoral [muscle] would have been the season. We’re reasonably happy with that prognosis.”
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While the trio has appeared on field at the same time for the All Blacks twice in the past – lock Scott and utility back Jordie came off the bench to join Beauden when the All Blacks played Samoa early last year, and Scott also joined his brothers in the final stages of the third Test against the British and Irish Lions last year – Saturday will mark the first time all three start together at international level.
“It’s one thing to be selected in the squad together and to be in the 23 together, but to start it’s a very proud moment for me and the family,” Beauden Barrett said Thursday afternoon.
“We’re looking forward to it, it’s just one of those childhood goals or dreams you have when you’re running around the back lawn pretending to be Christian Cullen or Tana Umaga or whoever it was back then, it’s really come true so I can’t wait to get out there with them.”
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21-year-old Jordie Barrett made headlines over the weekend when it was revealed police were called after he entered the wrong house following a night out.
Beauden backed up his younger brother and believes that despite the hiccup, he will be up to the task on Saturday when he heads out in the No.15 jersey.
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“He’s great, he’s trained really well this week and he’s in a good head space,” Barrett said.
“Not too often he gets flustered or fazed by big occasions. Occasionally he gets a hot head, on the field, he’s got that streak in him, which can be a good thing.
“In terms of temperament, he’s probably better than me in that department.”
That competitive streak is a trait the three All Black brothers share, but Beauden said it’s Jordie who brings it out the most.
“That quiet competitiveness, we don’t sort of talk about it but I can assure you when we’re playing backyard footy and cricket there’s plenty of that going on,” the 27-year-old first-five said.
“Jordie probably being the youngest, trying to keep up with all the big boys. There were many times where he’d be steaming in with a cricket ball and crying at the same time trying to get us out.”
The All Blacks’ three-Test series against France kicks off at Eden Park on Saturday night.
The matchday 23 is as follows (with Test caps in brackets):
1. Joe Moody (31)
2. Codie Taylor (29)
3. Owen Franks (95)
4. Samuel Whitelock (96) – captain
5. Scott Barrett (16)
6. Liam Squire (15)
7. Sam Cane (53)
8. Luke Whitelock (2)
9. Aaron Smith (71)
10. Beauden Barrett (62)
11. Rieko Ioane (13)
12. Ryan Crotty (32)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (22)
14. Ben Smith (64)
15. Jordie Barrett (2)
16. Nathan Harris (11)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe – new cap
18. Ofa Tuungafasi (14)
19. Vaea Fifita (5)
20. Ardie Savea (22)
21. TJ Perenara (42)
22. Damian McKenzie (12)
23. Ngani Laumape (4)
