All Blacks coach Ian Foster on team to play Fiji. Video / All Blacks TV
Playing first five-eighth has always been Beauden Barrett's preference.
After two starts there for the All Blacks in the past two years, Barrett returns from a testing six-month Japanese sabbatical to his favoured position against Fiji in Dunedin tonight free from his nagging Achillies injury and relishing the chance tocompete for the No 10 jersey.
Barrett played his part from fullback for the All Blacks and Blues in recent seasons but moving back closer to the action, having the ability to pull the strings once again, is where he wants to be.
Putting fullback largely on the backburner – other than perhaps pushing back there later in games – to exclusively focus on No 10 will bring out the best from his game. It is, after all, where he was recognised as world player of the year in 2016 and '17.
Much will be made of the ongoing battle between Barrett and Richie Mo'unga for the All Blacks No 10 jersey but, like all roles within the All Blacks, the pair work closely together each week.
"I want to focus on one role and be the best I can be in that," Barrett told the Herald this week. "I know Rich and I will be fighting for that and competing to make each other better and that's probably the best thing for this team.
"I know it's a long season so there will be a lot of load on players. I felt I was at my best when I was playing in the 10 jersey for the All Blacks and I could have a little bit more influence being closer to the ruck and being in the first-receiver role rather than a bit wider."
Playing fullback in many ways diminished Barrett's impact, negating his ability to strike from phase play while waiting or searching for the ball wider out in the backline.
"Some days the ball comes your way if you're out wide; some days you don't get too much. When you're playing 10 you're always on the ball; you're always having those opportunities to influence."
Beauden Barrett of the All Blacks looks on during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Logan Park on July 06, 2021 in Dunedin, New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
Barrett started the last of his 44 tests at No 10 for the All Blacks in the loss to the Wallabies in Brisbane last year. Prior to that, it was the final test before the 2019 World Cup against Tonga in Hamilton.
"Having played a full season in Japan it feels like I was playing 10 for the All Blacks yesterday," he said.
"I really enjoyed playing 10 at Suntory and getting used to that because it was a couple of years playing fullback."
All Blacks coach Ian Foster this week described Barrett as fast, calm, excited. Barrett attributes his improved physical condition to overcoming the nagging injury that limited his acceleration at times.
"I was struggling with an Achillies issue the last two years in the All Blacks and I went to Japan and fixed it," Barrett reveals.
He did so through functionality training – using water bag exercises and dedicating time in the gym to strengthening this problematic area.
"That hasn't bothered me since Australia last year so I've been able to train full trainings and get my power back which has been awesome. I don't think I'll be quicker than I was but I'll be there abouts."
The other notable change in Barrett's training is his ongoing partnership with acclaimed elite performance coach Dave Alred - Jonny Wilkinson's former mentor – who also works with the likes of Italian golfer Francesco Molinari.
While Queensland-based Alred managed one visit to Japan due to Covid-19 restrictions, Barrett speaks highly of the improvements he's made.
"He's changed the way I train and it effectively helps my all-round kicking game; I'm now spiralling the ball which is something I did in high school and lost. The drop punt, drop kick, doing it off both feet. I've really enjoyed a different perspective and way of training.
"I would really like to spend some time with him over here but the Covid situation has stopped that. We've been doing all this on Zoom and messaging over WhatsApp. He's helped me so much already just via video.
Beauden Barrett of the All Blacks thanks the fans following the 2020 Tri-Nations match between the Argentina Pumas and the New Zealand All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images.
"I've always enjoyed kicking but I'm obsessed with his work and how he teaches. It's a completely different way of looking at it."
Barrett has no regrets about his stint with wife Hannah and nine-month-old daughter Billie Rose at Suntory Sungoliath but it did give him a new appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy in New Zealand. Restrictions were so tight in Japan that there was no allowance for socialising.
"Little things like catching up for a coffee, having a beer in the changing room after the game, that didn't happen once throughout the whole season.
"You can imagine how tough it was. It was literally go to training, come home, play the game, repeat."
A change of culture and environment reinvigorated Barrett as he pushes towards notching a century for the All Blacks – this weekend will be his 90th test.
"It stoked the fire, especially around Super Rugby. I've only been at the Blues half a season so I'm very excited about having two more in Auckland and whatever international rugby looks like.
"I've just entered another chapter in my life. I'm now 30. I still feel really good physically and mentally very refreshed after a little stint with a lot of difficult circumstances.
"There's some big challenges ahead this year. Where we are right now after a pretty disappointing season last year as a group we're very focused to improve. There's a daily desire to get better at our skills. We know in the past it may have been a point of difference but at the moment it's not, so we're pretty keen to see how those go in the next few weeks."
Settling back in the driver's seat may well rekindle Barrett's influential best.
