Despite feeling the after effects of his switch from full-back to inside centre, All Blacks utility back Jordie Barrett is coming to terms with his new role at Test level.
Barrett delivered an outstanding performance for New Zealand in the number 12 jersey during their 40-14 triumph over Australia – a result which helped the All Blacks to retain their Rugby Championship title.
The 25-year-old also played at inside centre for most of the Melbourne Test against the Wallabies and said he is enjoying his stint in the midfield.
“It’s different. I felt like I couldn’t get out of fourth gear, particularly with accelerations, decelerations, and more collisions,” Barrett told the All Blacks‘ official website.
“That’s just the nature of being in the midfield. I still love playing 15 [full-back], and I love playing 12 [inside centre]. I just enjoy an opportunity to play for the All Blacks.”
In excellent form
Barrett kept the Wallabies’ defenders busy with some barnstorming runs in Saturday’s encounter at Eden Park in Auckland.
“Rugby hasn’t changed, and if you can get some gain-line off set-piece and nullify it on the other side of the ball, you go a long way toward winning a match,” he explained.
“They’ve got some outstanding carriers, Valentini, Pete Samu and some good outside backs and midfield players with some feet.”
He revealed that the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship-winning effort was driven by a desire to show their worth to fans in New Zealand after they scraped to a 39-37 victory in that first Test against Australia.
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“We weren’t too proud of our last quarter last week, and it could have gone in a different direction, so we knew, coming back to New Zealand, and Eden Park, it’s a place where we hold a high account, and we wanted to put on a performance that our fans and New Zealand are proud of,” said Barrett.
“Consistency is important, it’s what we strive for every day as All Blacks. The last few months haven’t been up to standard but I think we’re heading in the right direction now.”