1
Former All Blacks on whether Jordie Barrett should be a guaranteed selection
By Henry Lee
The big news this week that shocked the rugby world was All Blacks and Blues centre Rieko Ioane’s announcement regarding a move to Irish club Leinster for the 2026 season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ioane took a sabbatical option in his New Zealand Rugby contract, and will be back playing for the Blues in 2027.
Ioane will follow in Jordie Barrett’s footsteps, who has spent the 2025 season at Leinster.
With the All Blacks squads for the home series against France and the Rugby Championship fast approaching, there’s growing discussion in New Zealand about whether Jordie Barrett will make the first squad of the year, and if he does, whether he’ll be in Scott Robertson’s starting 15.
Ex-Highlander Joey Wheeler admits that even though Barrett will be in the squad, he doesn’t think that his United Rugby Championship form for Leinster should guarantee starting selection.
“I don’t think you need to lump that sort of pressure on him in terms of starting, but he’d be in the 23 for sure,” Wheeler said on The Breakdown.
“I just think when you talk about guys like Jordie Barrett, he’s in the ilk of a Sam Cane, a Beauden Barrett, where class is permanent. These guys just understand Test match rugby, they know what it takes mentally, physically, to get themselves in a position to perform on the highest stage.
“This guy is world class, there’s no questions about it. He’s in your squad, you’re picking him every day of the week. I don’t think you start him because I like your point about rewarding form in New Zealand.”
ADVERTISEMENT
23-Test former All Black Stephen Donald believes that the 2024 vice captain of the All Blacks is a lock for the playing 23, but not necessarily in the starting 15.
“Would I pick him? Yes in the squad, of course, he’s the vice captain, but would I start him? Not necessarily because nothing to do with his form, but more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and have played well all year.”
Former All Black Jeff Wilson agrees with both Wheeler and Donald, saying that the players in Super Rugby should be rewarded for their form.
“But ultimately, the fact that guys are hardened having gone through a Super Rugby campaign, and they would have come off the back of what’s going to be a challenging playoff series.
ADVERTISEMENT
“He’ll have to still come back and prove himself once again, and he’s probably a player who would look at his 2024 and go, I’d like to have a bigger impact on the All Blacks in 2025 than I did in that season.”
Another name that is in the midfield mix for this World Cup cycle is Leicester Fainga’anuku, who returns from a 2-year stint in France.
Wheeler explains that Fainga’anuku will need to play NPC before being selected for the All Blacks in 2025, after not being on a New Zealand Rugby contract while being overseas.
“He has to play first class rugby for a team before he’s allowed to be selected, same as TJ Perenara, same as Damian McKenzie. They didn’t pick Damian at all that year, when he came back from Suntory and Japan, so there is a risk that they might do that as well.”
Donald is quick to point out that Fainga’anuku isn’t a guaranteed selection for the All Blacks, and will have to perform in the Bunnings NPC competition to be picked.
“His Crusaders form is brilliant, I’m a big fan of what he does. But also he’s been away for two years, It’s two seasons.
“Fainga’anuku has been in France and I mean we can all say there’s a lot of money in there. But the reality is, there’s about three or four good teams in it, and the rest of it is marginal.
“If you’ve ever watched it, it’s not the same pace as Super Rugby so he’ll play a full NPC.”
News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!
When Donald remarked that the URC was weak and that the Champions cup was basically on par with Super Rugby it really did show the hubris that currently exists in NZ. Lots of people forget that Leinster are basically the Irish team in disguise which indicates why they are giving everyone a hiding not to mention the fact that they have the best club coaching team in world Rugby. They also have a host of international stars on their books. The only other clubs who are on the same level is Bordeaux and Toulouse who can command as much talent. In the URC Benneton is basically the Italian team, Glasgow is half the Scottish team, Edinburgh has a significant amount of Scottish Internationals, Munster is a force with international and local talent and the 3/4 SA teams add plenty of Springboks. Its hardly a weak competition. The fact that the URC is also played over the widest variety of conditions makes it unique as well. It has variety and plenty of talent. The champions cup speaks for itself. Its the biggest and best in the world. Jordie Barrett will come back a stronger player for his experiences up north. Super Rugby is not the powerhouse it once was and doesn’t even have the playing talent it once did to boast being the best. So how Donald qualifies this statement is beyond me and his reasoning for doubting Jordies selection makes no sense.
I cracked up when Wheeler and Donald disparaged the northern competitions quality, a very pertinent point in this regards. But it only really matters if NZR have improved on their policies, with a sabbatical no longer meaning what it does/did, after the likes of Ardiea Savea last year and others before him showing that allowing someone to come straight back into the team after a lack of quality rugby is just too detrimental to AB performances. AB’s on sabbatical should need to do more than the incumbents (than they would have) back at home in Super Rugby, and currently Jordie is not doing that.
I would also bring him straight back into the team and give him the best possible opportunity as the 23 though. With Leinsters management of him and star studded team it sounds like he’s pretty fresh. His form, and fitness, over the next 6 or so weeks could change that either way. On previous protocol however, he is straight back in as the starting 12 against France.
Form and fitness at home will also play a factor, as will Razor’s past stubbornness to play anyone else in midfield. Of that group there is only ALB that could be considered as the other option to start in the jersey, but at least he’s one to have started the season in good form, though that it had been at center and more recently has been injured. Their are two other performers have shown much more of a case for having that jersey. but they would be brand new selections, while Havili has still not shown any improvement from past good seasons to suggest he can do more than ALB. It would take an extraordinary return to his first couple of breakout seasons to change that picture.
AJ Lam and Timico Tavatavanawai have been the hot 2nd five options so far this season and you can’t really see their contributions changing as seasoned pros by now, through the 2nd half of Super Rugby. Both are of course uncapped (I believe) All Blacks, so while not without precedent of Lam being chosen to start the season there, certainly Big Jim as a first season midfielder is a very long shot to be given the jersey. Also in that category would be any other other ABXV players and hopefuls from last year, Higgins now has 5-7 games to show his case, will Poihipi, McLeod, or even the form Umaga-Jensen brothers (now that others are fit and firing and infront of them) get that same chance too? Looks like the layoff isn’t going to stop Higgins showing his best, he just has too much class on his pass for that to happen, I have him in a four horse race at home to see if someone deserves to make Jordie earn his jersey back.
Quinn Tupaea has been the standout 12 in the comp every time he has played there.
Leicester Fainga’anuka is now a 13. Having watched him play the past two seasons at Toulon, he is the hard crashball running midfielder the All Blacks have lacked since Nonu retired from test rugby. And his defence has been good.
Let him play in NPC a few games to make everyone happy and call him up for the Rugby Championship and November tests.
Not in the picture and will find it hard pressed to take Big Jim or Aumua’s spot at Tasman.
Its not about “making everyone happy” its about contracts. LF HAS to play for a team in NZ before he can be selected for the ABS. JB doesnt because he is contracted already. Basically I dont see LF being in the squad to play France as he wont have played. Bet anything you like that Razor has him around the squad tho. Also he played plenty of 13 for the Saders didnt he? I remember watching him play 13, just not sure how often.
There are no rewards for second best in test rugby.
You pick your best midfield combination available for selection. Jordie and Ioane do not compliment each other, they have no chemistry at all. One of them must be dropped and it’s an easy decision who to drop as Jordie is playing outstanding at 12 for Leinster and Ioane is once again underperforming at 13 for the Blues.
Jordie and Quinn Tupaea should be the 12s and Billy Proctor and Anton Lienart-Brown selected as 13s. Timoci Tavatavanawai selected as wing to replace Te’lea.
The only mystery is what to do with AJ Lam, who is also playing outstanding at 12 and is a very good wing and started 13 for All Blacks XV vs Munster and was fantastic.
Well said!
Jordie will play. I'm looking forward to having Leicester back, he was starting to look good when he went overseas and now with that added experience could well be best option at 13.
“more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and have played well all year.” Not the way to go at Int. level. Jordie is now playing at a higher level than Super Rugby, with a Leinster team that is arguably the best in the world at this level.
However I do think that against what will be a 2nd/3rd pick French team, there is an argument for giving SR players a run at this level. But not in the RC.
Sorry Miz… There is no way the UK comps are stronger. JB has stood out in a weaker comp. Big time! Yep there are some good teams but the winning margins of some matches is somewhat embarrassing to the two comps Leinster play in.
I don’t see it as a higher level Miz (and more importantly neither will Razor), even the aussie sides are producing better a competition than the likes of Glasgow, but that’s not what they’re aruing (though they did mention that factor), theyre saying your perspective should be irrelevant, that it doesn’t matter how high profile he is or how well he’s playing. Unless I read your grammar wrong and that’s the point you’re trying to argue against.
Agree on you’re second point but then what is the point of conditioning Barrett so? There’s certainly an option to not select the other two 12’s in the team to promote some depth (obviously going against their argument) and work out a real selection/priority order before RC.
It will be funny when Rieko can finally have that same argument you’re presenting given as case for selection (where for a while now theres really been none other than his incumbency)!
Jordie Barrett is an automatic AB choice who by all accounts has starred for Leinster. Fainganuku is also a shoe in for the squad next season but needs time back in NZ to reestablish himself fully. Several fine players for midfield spots in the ABs but you can only play 2 at a time plus bench.
You pick him to start with my pick for cover on bench AJ Lam legit can play 12 13 both wings could provide some physical impact and got better gas than ALB to play wing
Ridiculous, of course you pick him at 12. If you bring in a newbie from the start and they make too many mistakes, that can cost you dearly in the last quarter, as you’re playing catchup.
Jordie would be on for the last quarter.
But who would they need to be player catchup against? Aren’t we talking just to start the season, this July?
You don’t pick Jordie Barrett. He picks himself. Every week. At 12.
How silly - of course you pick him.