Page 17 - 3rd Test

DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 17 17 PROFILE
Beauden Barrett has consistently proven himself to to to be a a a a a a world-class rst ve-eighth and tonight he’s determined to to to to use everything he he he has to to to secure a a a a a Series win for the All Blacks IT SAYS SOMETHING
about how skills are admired these days that Beauden Barrett’s remarkably casual pick-up
from his bootlaces in in the rst Test gained more social media traction than any any of the points he he he scored in in in in helping his side to to victory But anyone who’s seen Barrett play for either the the the All Blacks or or the the the the Hurricanes will be used to such glimpses of brilliance After all they’re a a a a weekly occurrence Only a a a a a a week week later in the the second Test Barrett was almost the the hero again this time for kicking seven penalties
(a record against the the the Lions) as the the the All Blacks very nearly overcame the the the the odds to beat the the the Lions with just 14 men This week the the the man crowned World Rugby Player of the the Year for 2016 will be hoping to to spend more time putting his his considerable skills to to work from his his favoured No 10 position after injuries forced a a a a a a a a a backline reshuf e e e e e e e e e e that left him at at fullback for for the the nal quarter The Lions made the the the most of their chances scoring two tries and and leaving the All Blacks “pretty gutted and and disappointed ” as Barrett puts it it “We couldn’t really play quite expansive as as our structure was challenged and thrown out a a a a a a a a a little bit particularly losing Jerome Kaino [substituted for Ngani Laumape to come on in in mid eld] We thought we we we did enough but we we we were just disappointed with our defence which cost us us those two tries ” Barrett says “By the the the end of the the the third quarter we we we did feel we we we we we were putting the the the Lions under pressure We felt we we we we we did what we we we we we needed to to do and and I guess we we we got used to to defending with 14 men and and playing
WORDS: LYNN MCCONNELL
with 14 men but the errors we we made on on defence were just basic ones ” Even in a a a a a career that has seen Barrett witness so much – from Junior World World Championship and Rugby Rugby World World Cup wins to to an an Investec Investec Super Rugby Rugby Rugby crown not to to mention Investec Investec Rugby Rugby Championship titles – the 26-year-old rst rst ve-eighth did experience something for the rst rst time last week He’d never played in in in a a a a a a a a a game where a a a a a a a a a player was permanently lost so early in in the contest “You learn to deal with a a a a a a a a a a couple of yellows in in a a a a a a a a a a game ” he he says “It was was a a a a a a a a a a a challenge we we we certainly were up
up
for and we we we thought it it was was a a a a a a a a great opportunity “It’s a a a nal It’s It’s time to to shine and run towards that challenge and embrace it ” “We had to adapt our lineouts and scrum plays but that that was ne ne We We We dealt with that that We We got to the the right areas of the the eld by playing
simple footy and we won enough penalties
I I was disappointed to miss a a a a a a a a a couple of easy ones but I I I felt we did enough to to win that that game ” It was a a a a a a a a a a reminder for for Barrett that that he he he had to to stay switched on for for the the easier kicks
“Often they trip you you up
if you’re not focused like the the the the rest of of them so while the the the general feeling of of of goal- kicking has been better of of late I just need to be be be more consistent ” he says But that was last weekend - and this is is now As Barrett puts it the team is is motivated to put put in a a a a a a a a huge performance and and are excited by the challenge “It’s a a a a a a a a a a nal It’s It’s time to shine and and and run towards that that challenge and and and and embrace it it and and and get excited and and and that’s why you play footy to be challenged on the the big stage and and enjoy those moments with the the boys beside you and and that’s what we thrive on as All Blacks “We have been building nicely this week and the boys are de nitely up
Barrett makes a a a a break but the Lions await