Today’s announcement of the All Blacks’ match-day squad for the first Test against England was always going to be critical in showing how the Razor era will separate itself from Ian Foster’s and nothing highlights the difference more than Beauden Barrett’s place on the reserves bench.
It is extremely unlikely that it would have happened under Foster.
Barrett’s experience and quality meant he was a near definite starter at either first-five or fullback (more latterly at the back behind the now absent No.10 Richie Mo’unga), so Barrett may have given a double take at the news following his return from a Japan sabbatical.
“He took it like a true pro – whatever is required for this team… he’s covering a couple of positions and can slot in at any time,” Robertson replied when he was asked about Barrett the senior’s reaction. “He was great.”
There is no doubt Barrett has value on the bench.
As Robertson said, “Obviously the experience of 123 Tests counts for a lot”, but after seeing one younger brother, Scott, named skipper, and another, Jordie, named vice-captain, and both starting as expected, there may be a sense for Beauden that his career has come full circle in a slightly unexpected way.
When the now 33-year-old began his career in 2012 it was as an impact player off the reserves bench and his acceleration and eye for a gap against tiring defences was revelatory. The double world player of the year became the first-choice No.10 in 2016 before being replaced, eventually, by Mo’unga, and shifted to fullback.
Robertson was at pains to point out that Barrett will be covering both Damian McKenzie at No.10 and Stephen Perofeta, who is about to play his fourth Test, at fullback.
Another way of looking at it is Barrett would have covered No.10 if he had started at fullback, with Perofeta having the potential to cover both, too. But, for this Test anyway, the selectors wanted to go back to the future. It should be said, too, that the whole mix will change when Will Jordan returns from a shoulder injury later in the year.
“We’ve got a really strong and experienced bench for this Test which will be critical,” Robertson said, adding of Perofeta, who recently celebrated a championship with the Blues: “[He’s] a guy who has been in form, is good around the high ball, playing great footy, [and] just two weeks ago was in a Test match-level game – a final – and Beauden can play his part covering 10 and 15.”
Interestingly, there is no room at all for Caleb Clarke, outstanding for the Blues this season and a player who shone, like most of his team, in their grand final victory over the Chiefs.
Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece have been preferred on the wings. Tele’a, thanks to his form and incumbency – he was outstanding at last year’s World Cup – and Reece, back in the black jersey after a knee injury wrecked his 2023 season, due to his workrate and form at the below-par Crusaders.
All of which means the All Blacks’ relatively inexperienced (and relatively short) back three will likely get a lot of attention from the English in the form of high kicks. Indeed, going by Reece’s comments today, it sounded like he is ready for both line speed and catching practice.
Elsewhere, the talking points are at halfback, where TJ Perenara got the nod ahead of Finlay Christie. “He’s on form, he’s a competitor, he’s got 80 Test matches, he’s the koro we needed… he’s a Test match footballer,” Robertson said of Perenara, 32, back for his first Test since 2022 due to an Achilles injury.
And blindside flanker Samipeni Finau. What does Robertson like about the Chiefs’ heavy-hitter?
“He’s six foot five and 120-odd kilos, a great lineout jumper and can tackle and he’s physical. He’s a Test forward,” Robertson said.
Otherwise, Robertson was happy to talk about his emotions heading into his first Test.
He revealed he had received a message from former All Blacks head coach Sir Graham Henry, who started his Test career in Dunedin 20 years ago.
And he was asked whether he might go for a surf on Saturday to calm the nerves.
“It was 10 foot yesterday so I won’t be going – I might end up in Antarctica,” Robertson said. “I’ll end up in the water some way or another. Get a bit of exercise in and connect with some of the whānau coming down.”
What will be his final message to his players? “Be brave, [to] trust themselves.”
All Blacks match-day 23
(Test caps in brackets)
1. Ethan de Groot (22), 2. Codie Taylor (85), 3. Tyrel Lomax (32), 4. Scott Barrett (69) (Captain), 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (43), 6. Samipeni Finau (1), 7. Dalton Papali’i (32), 8. Ardie Savea (81) (Vice Captain), 9. TJ Perenara (80), 10. Damian McKenzie (47), 11. Mark Tele’a (9), 12. Jordie Barrett (57) (Vice Captain), 13. Rieko Ioane (67), 14. Sevu Reece (23), 15. Stephen Perofeta (3).
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua (6), 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (57), 18. Fletcher Newell (13), 19. Tupou Vaa’i (25), 20. Luke Jacobson (18), 21. Finlay Christie (21), 22. Anton Lienert-Brown (70), 23. Beauden Barrett (123).
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