The Beauden Barrett Appreciation Society.

[Packman]

How good is this guy?!? Nought to 60 in 0.5 seconds and scares the living crap out of defenses. He's the next Shane Williams in the way he pops up all over the pitch just when the opposition are staring at the clock urging the digits to hit 80 mins. He freaked out Ireland in the dying seconds last Sunday.

I enjoy watching him play for the Hurricanes and secretly hope he'll run out of patience with Steve Hansen and sign for Leicester next season! Haha!

Seriously though, this guy is scarily good. He's up there with Ben Smith in what he offers to a midfield. One risk is that he does get shifted all over the back line and that's always a long term recipe for Test match obscurity. As a fan I hope Hansen manages him well, but if he ends up being the next Nick Evans then Leicester better be ready with the cheque book because every D.O.R. in Europe will be after him.

It would be hilarious if he signed for Saracens. :lol:

 

[Jack Reacher]

He is good, unfortunately he will need to displace Cruden - neither have set the world alight internationally yet and Cruden will always perform in Super Rugby. Barrett to be taken seriously as a centre/fullback will need to bulk up and it wouldn't hurt to improve his goalkicking too.
I 'threaded' a while back Barrett should start over Cruden but Cruden has impressed me recently especially confronting Joubert against England and querying his call! That takes some gumption. He also broke away from set play a tad against Ireland, he and Nonu played thier natural games which got us back into it.

 

[nickdnz]

I think Barrett's outstanding. He simply hasn't had a bad game yet for the All Blacks. As a Canes' fan it is very pleasing to see he has stuck around. He certainly reminds me of Nick Evans - he has much more pace than I would thought as well. I would like to see him start more at 1st 5/8th - but frankly Israel Dagg has been shoddy in recent week so I'd happily see him more at fullback.

Interesting how little Reunion has mentioned Barrett (especially as they no longer offer any criticism of any player on the field - and just praise every single players performance regardless of how sh*te they play. They said Dagg and Nonu had great games against Ireland while Ben Smith played like Conrad Smith - muppets.

 

[Jack Reacher]

Yes, Dagg is filling me with a bit of concern, a bit 'Cullenish' maybe, best years already behind him at 25?
Until another proper fullback emerges Dagg will get picked until the cows come home - I just hope he doesn't try too hard to break out of his rut and start doing silly things ala Rocokoko, Cullen etc when they were struggling.
I think next years Super Rugby the main positions Hanson and Co will be watching will be front row, midfield and fullback. To say the WC squad is already 90% picked is rubbish, they will make a call on Dagg for the English series next June so hopefully he can have a cracker SR.
The other option is to drop the B Smith centre experiment, go with Crotty until Conrad is back and play B Smith at fullback. Barrett to backline utility with the odd start.

 

[Aristodemus]

Count me in on this, the guy is brilliant. He has changed test matches this year on his own and I would advocate him starting over Cruden.

 

[Peat]

I am signed up to this like it was a free steak and whisky society. Kid is quality.

 

[Aedaphon]

I have definitely been pushing this line for a while.

Everyone was harping on his defensive failings and looked to be right when he got bumped in the last SA test (although I'll still argue there's not too much shame in being bumped by JdV).

But his trackback tackle on LeRoux was out of this world- it's not many flyhalves that can catch up to a test-class winger. His playmaking is great but it's his speed that really makes him stand out as a future option.

 

[Patchey]

If he has a better haircut I'd probably worship him like certain people do Ben Smith...

 

[donmcdazzle]

He is definitely a quality player. I hope he can get the Hurricanes ticking next year and they actually make a charge at the finals. If he can do that it would really help his starting berth claims because for the past couple of seasons he just hasn't done it at Super level.

Despite being skinny he doesn't struggle when he has the ball e.g. knocking out Cian Healy on the weekend, but he has a frame that looks like it could handle a few more kilos.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I loved how he knocked out Cian Healy on Sunday with a legitimate elbow after running through his tackle.

 

[big ginger 8]

I loved how he knocked out Cian Healy on Sunday with a legitimate elbow after running through his tackle.

I think he's a strong runner for his size but that's not a fair assessment. Healy was tackling him albeit with poor technique (so he might have missed anyway) but the elbow caught him (accidentally) and he dropped like a stone. I wouldn't count it as a legitimate tackle break.

 

[dasNdanger]

If he has a better haircut I'd probably worship him like certain people do Ben Smith...

Careful, you're starting to sound like me...


das

 

[The Jones Boy]

I loved how he knocked out Cian Healy on Sunday with a legitimate elbow after running through his tackle.

That was the stuff of legend and an undeniable reminder that there is no substitute for pace.
Cian Healy is made of granite but Barrett is lightning in a bottle.
I'm not sure Barrett even knew Healy was there, he looked like he was thinking 20 feet ahead. The kid is amazing, I havent seen an All Black prospect dazzle like this guy since... The Jones Boy.
As a first five ahead of Cruden?
Hmmmm... Cruden kicked that last conversion that created the record run in a calendar year, thats the kind of bottle and ticker that gets you through an RWC.
What is Barretts kicking game like from the tee?

 

[nickdnz]

I think he's a strong runner for his size but that's not a fair assessment. Healy was tackling him albeit with poor technique (so he might have missed anyway) but the elbow caught him (accidentally) and he dropped like a stone. I wouldn't count it as a legitimate tackle break.

lol.

 

[big ginger 8]

lol.

Yes concussion is hilarious...

 

[GoTheNaki]

Well... What can I say about Mr. Beauden. Having seen him play all levels bar him being at Francis Douglas, I can say, and it might upset a few. But he's just a tad bit overrated. I've seen him do his thing for my county Taranaki), he is no doubt, the talk of the town when it comes to rugby, and is a key man to the Hurricanes franchise. But he's just not "all that". The Hurricanes on paper has a ridiculous stacked back-line, a halfback, that I feel will be THE All Blacks halfback to make them even better next to him. But the Hurricanes did nothing this season. Now, I don't rate Mark H. at all as a coach or person, but there should be question marks over why this team is not performing.

Don't get me wrong, Beauden is most certainly our 2nd best option (I think Carter is done), but that's only because who else is there? Noakes/Kerr? Laughable. Slade? Just no. But somehow all the Super teams have their no.10 position locked up... I feel that the biggest tragedy at the end of this ITM Cup season was a team not taking a bite on Ihaia West. The 'Canes picked up Marty Banks instead.. I think in the next 2/3 seasons, the Crusaders are going to need a new 10, as well as the Highlanders/Blues (I think a good 10 will do wonders for their title chances). But you know how the AB selectors are with men in Crusader uniforms, West will be a massive threat to Barrett.

So yeah, Beauden is the 3rd(2nd) best NZ option, playing in NZ, unfortunately, I just don't think he's "special" enough to hold his position if there were other good 10s on Super contracts.

 

[nickdnz]

Yes concussion is hilarious...

More the example of obvious fanboyism.

"I wouldn't count it as a legitimate tackle break"

Your great, I love it.

 

[Dizzy]

Been singing his praises forever. It's good to see that some of our posters have come around. The last time I spoke about Barrett on here he was too poor in defense according to a number of posters after his missed tackle on JDV..

He is another Carter/McCaw like All Black in the making "heard it here first"

 

[donmcdazzle]

Been singing his praises forever. It's good to see that some of our posters have come around. The last time I spoke about Barrett on here he was too poor in defense according to a number of posters after his missed tackle on JDV..

He is another Carter/McCaw like All Black in the making "heard it here first"

Let's just see him put together a complete season for the Hurricanes before we start praying at the alter eh. Reverend Larksea has been sermonising for months but I won't be a convert until I see him run the show consistently for the canes.

 

[Chikwa]

Let's just see him put together a complete season for the Hurricanes before we start praying at the alter eh. Reverend Larksea has been sermonising for months but I won't be a convert until I see him run the show consistently for the canes.

He definitely needs to show composure, understanding and thus the ability to adjust and control the game .Of course if he is playing behind a pack that is inconsistent ( canes) the half backs will not always shine. He does however have the talent to be the no 1 fly half come 2015.