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WATCH: The Barrett Bolter that the ABs need

 

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.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_HewhHZABc

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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Nickers 36 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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