Jordie Barrett believes he’s finally carving out a permanent place in the All Blacks midfield, but the 28-year-old insists he won’t be moulded into a carbon copy of Ma’a Nonu.
Saturday’s defeat to Argentina marked Barrett’s 26th Test start at inside centre, moving him past the 25 appearances he has made at fullback. He’ll once again be used prominently by All Blacks coach Scott Robertson as an attacking weapon in the two Tests against the Boks in Auckland and Wellington.
For the younger Barrett brother, the shift feels natural.
“I feel comfortable enough in both positions, but that obviously doesn’t guarantee performance at an international level – rugby’s so tough at the highest level these days,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve got a deep understanding of the game, which helps, but I guess I just want to play one of those positions the best I can if it grants me a starting All Black jersey. At the moment that’s 12, and my challenge is to hold on to that for as long as I can.”
KEO: Boks primed to end Eden Park curse
Barrett has faced comparisons with legendary All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu, but he refuses to be boxed into someone else’s mould.
“For years there’s been calls that I need to play like Ma’a Nonu, but I can’t physically play like Ma’a Nonu. I certainly don’t want to be put into a box and told this is a way that a 12 is meant to play.”
Instead, Barrett says the modern game demands a different kind of inside centre, and he is intent on building a multi-dimensional skillset.
“I think the game has evolved over the last few years. I’m trying to develop a skillset and I feel like I’m getting there. If I need to kick to someone I can, if I need to pass to someone I can, if I want to get my hands through an offload I can, if I want to beat someone I can, that’s where I want to get to as a midfielder and I feel like that’s important in today’s game.”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
The post Barrett: I can’t be another Ma’a Nonu appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.