- Title: Jordie Barrett to play flyhalf, Retallick returns for NZ
- Date: 4th October 2019
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 4, 2019) (REUTERS) ALL BLACKS UTILITY BACK, JORDIE BARRETT AT TEAM TRAINING JORDIE BARRETT KICKING BALLS AT TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS' HEAD COACH STEVE HANSEN SAYING: "One, he's played there before at a lower level. Two, he's got the skillsets we believe to be able to run the game and the confidence and the skillset to be able to execute at the same time as well as run it. So, we're reasonably confident he will be fine." BARRETT RECEIVING AND PASSING BALL AT TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS' HEAD COACH STEVE HANSEN SAYING: "He said 'oh that's exciting', I said 'it is'." ALL BLACKS SQUAD SIDES STEPPING ON TRAINING PITCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS UTILITY BACK, JORDIE BARRETT SAYING: "I think, it's a pretty special jersey. A lot of great players have gone before me and current players here now. So, it's one I'm very grateful for and yeah, I'll treasure it." ALL BLACKS SQUAD CATCH AND PASSING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS UTILITY BACK, JODIE BARRETT SAYING: "There's a lot of good guys around me out there, inside and outside. It'll make my job a lot easier. I've just got to basically just do my job. I know it sounds cliché but I've just got to do whatever's asked of me." BRODIE RETALLICK (C) CATCHING AND PASSING BALL VARIOUS OF ALL BLACKS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS COACH STEVE HANSEN SAYING: "They're pleased for him, you know. There's a lot of excitement to have the big fella back. You go back to the night it actually happened and there was a bit of despair. But, then we found out it wasn't one of those dislocations that would require an operation so then there's a bit more hope. As he has trained he has got better and the guys have got more and more excited, none more so, probably than the coach." RETALLICK CATCHING AND PASSING BALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALL BLACKS' HEAD COACH STEVE HANSEN SAYING: "It's always been there. We've been expected to win every game we play and not only win it, but win it really well. So, we have to acknowledge it to ourselves first and for most. Then once you do that, then you have to say to yourself, well, what are we going to do about it? Because we know it's there and it's just a matter of embracing it and enjoying it. You know, you're better off being the favourite then you are the underdog. You know, like if we came here and everyone said, they've got no show of winning it, you know, it's a bit tough, isn't it? But, you come here and you've got to show, well, I think, that's way better. I'd rather have a favourite race horse than the outsider. Favourites normally win over time more often than they lose. So, just because we're one of the favourites doesn't mean to say we will win it, we have to earn the right to win it. But, I think it's a better position to be in then to be seen as someone that can't win it." HALFBACK AARON SMITH USING STRETCH BAND SQUAD STRETCHING AT TRAINING
- Embargoed: 18th October 2019 10:09
- Keywords: All Blacks Namibia Tokyo on Sunday Steve Hansen Jordie Barrett
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZOK8JJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Utility back Jordie Barrett was told on Thursday (October 3) that he would make his first appearance at flyhalf for the All Blacks against Namibia in their Pool B clash in Tokyo on Sunday (October 6), with his first training run there on Friday (October 4), coach Steve Hansen said.
Barrett was one of 12 changes made by Hansen for the clash with Namibia as the team faced its first short turnaround of the World Cup, having played Canada in Oita on Wednesday (October 2).
Brodie Retallick has also returned from a dislocated shoulder that had threatened his participation at the tournament and rejoins locking partner Sam Whitelock, who will captain the side in the absence of the rested Kieran Read.
Barrett's selection at flyhalf, however, was not a major surprise, given Hansen said prior to the tournament there was a likelihood that his utility backs could play the pivotal role in pool games against the tier-two nations.
Hansen chose just two specialist flyhalves in his World Cup squad in Richie Mo'unga and Beauden Barrett, who has been playing fullback in a dual playmaker game plan with Mo'unga wearing the number 10 jersey.
Hansen added he had told Barrett he would play flyhalf on Thursday. "He said 'oh that's exciting', I said 'it is'," said Hansen.
Retallick dislocated his shoulder against the Springboks in July and suffered nerve damage that he thought could keep him out of the tournament altogether.
Hansen said presser to win is nothing new for the All Blacks. But, being the favourite to win the Webb Ellis cup has its advantages.
The 2014 World Player of the Year, however, was selected in the squad on the expectation that he would be available for the knockout stage of the tournament, although the lock said he had hoped to be back for the last pool game against Italy.
Team: 15-Ben Smith, 14-Sevu Reece, 13-Jack Goodhue, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 11-George Bridge, 10-Jordie Barrett, 9-Aaron Smith, 8-Ardie Savea, 7-Sam Cane, 6-Shannon Frizell, 5-Sam Whitelock (captain), 4-Brodie Retallick, 3-Nepo Laulala, 2-Codie Taylor, 1-Joe Moody
Replacements: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Ofa Tuungafasi, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Matt Todd, 21-Brad Weber, 22-TJ Perenara, 23-Rieko Ioane
(Production: Jill Gralow) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None