Steve Hansen was reluctant to compare the performances of Beauden Barrett last night and Dan Carter against the 2005 British and Irish Lions, but that doesn’t mean we can’t.
Barrett torched the Wallabies at Eden Park last night, scoring four tries as part of a 30-point in the 40-12 win that secured the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
It was 13 years ago though that Carter produced a performance many regard as the finest ever by a first-five-eighth in Test rugby.
He may have scored 30 points in the All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup demolition of the Wallabies, but Beauden Barrett is not the finished article according to his coach. (Source: Other)
The Cantabrian was at his virtuosic best as he scored 33 points including two tries, though it’s the five-pointer he scored a grubber kicking down the right touchline that is stuck in the minds of many.
Hansen wasn’t entertaining a comparison at a media conference today.
“I don’t think it’s about comparing performances…both athletes were quality players, playing in a position where you have a massive influence on the game,” he said.
“Did they exert that influence? Yes, they did, Dan did in 05 and Beauden did last night.”
Hansen was also hesitant to discuss where Barrett stood in comparison to Carter and other all-time greats to wear the black No.10 jersey at this stage of his career.
“We didn’t think anyone could be better than Merhtens, then we didn’t think anyone could be better than Grant Fox,” Hansen said.
“Life has a way of turning something new up because they are inspired by the people before them, there’ll be kids out there, we might even have someone in our squad now, who’s one day will be better than Beauden Barrett.”
“There will definitely be kids out there wanting to be better than Beauden Barrett, that’s the thing about sport, great performers inspire other great performers.”
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