“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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The post Beauden Barrett Warms Into Test Season By Practising Non-Committal Smile When Asked About Playing 10 Or 15 appeared first on The Whakataki Times.

FOREGONE CONCLUSION

The TAB has officially scrapped the option to bet on the Crusaders winning the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific final this Saturday — citing the result as “pre-determined” and therefore not a gamble worth taking.

The Crusaders, who face off against the Chiefs in Christchurch, boast a staggering home playoff record: 31 wins from 31 games, which is extremely unlikely to change come the final whistle after 80 minutes.

TAB spokesman Mark Goldstein explained the decision with a mix of amusement and resignation

“We love a good underdog story as much as anyone,” Goldstein said, “but the Crusaders’ home playoff record is basically the sporting equivalent of gravity — you can’t argue with it, you can’t bet against it, and frankly, it’s not really fun for anyone except their fans.”

Goldstein added, “Offering odds on the Crusaders to win at home is like selling insurance on whether the sun will rise tomorrow. It’s a predetermined outcome. We tried to crunch the numbers, ran all the algorithms, and every path led to a Crusaders win. So, for the sake of our sanity — and our wallets — we’ve removed that betting option.”

Chiefs fans, meanwhile, are reportedly considering alternate plans for Saturday night, including accepting defeat gracefully and just hoping their team loses with dignity. 

Meanwhile, TAB punters are advised to look elsewhere if they’re after a flutter with genuine uncertainty.

More to come. 

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The post TAB Scraps Crusaders Win Option For Home Playoff Final, Cites “Pre-Determined Result” appeared first on The Whakataki Times.