ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
“JUST WHEREVER THE TEAM NEEDS ME”
Ahead of the All Blacks first test against France this weekend, Beauden Barrett has once again fronted media with the steely poise of a man who knows exactly what to say.
Barrett was doing his regular standup in Dunedin where reporters asked the first-five-fullback-general-utility-back about where he thinks he’ll slot into Scott Robertson’s matchday squad.
“Ah yeah, just wherever the team needs me really,” Barrett said with a smile so non-committal it could be used as a stock image titled “neutral reaction”.
“Just happy to do what’s best for the team to be honest, whether that’s at 10, 15 or even off the bench,” he explained with a carefully rehearsed grin that he’d been practising at the hotel this morning.
The question of whether Barrett should be starting at first-five or fullback has become a seasonal tradition in New Zealand, so it’s not surprising the veteran All Black has been rehearsing his answers with the smile of a Cheshire cat.
When quizzed on the form of Damian McKenzie, Barrett was quick to squash any headline-worthy remarks.
“Yeah, look, he’s played well this year hasn’t he?” he smiled. “You saw what he did with the Chiefs. But yeah, like I said before, just happy to slot in wherever the team needs me.
“I mean, I’ve played a lot at 10 over the years, and had some decent moments there,” he said. “But fullback is a great position too. Lots of space. Bit more grass in front of me. Either way, just stoked to be part of the squad and will play wherever Razor needs me,” Barrett concluded, finishing off the media session with another smile that projected an air of being unfazed either way.
More to come.
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