Rugby: Beauden Barrett says focus on Samoa, not Lions

Forget the Lions; right now it's all about Samoa for the All Blacks, according to key playmaker Beauden Barrett.

The All Blacks have their one hitout before the Lions series starts at Eden Park in a fortnight when they face the bruising Samoans on the same ground on Friday night.

For the first five-eighth it's all about playing what's in front of them, rather than peer too far into the distance.

''We can't be thinking of the Lions,'' Barrett said today.

''It's us vs Samoa. That's 100 percent our focus now, it's about us getting together as quick as we can and putting out a performance to start the 2017 year.''

And Barrett said lack of training time on the park is no excuse.

''We won't have a lot of training time on our feet, but we can make up for that with conversations off the park and computers for analysis,'' he said.

''What we can't do is panic because we have a limited amount of preparation. We have plenty of time.

''It's going to be a good hitout for us. We know what's coming in terms of physicality and passion so we'll be ready for that.''

Barrett insists he's ready to resume his goalkicking role.

Younger brother Jordie, also in the All Blacks squad along with lock Scott, has proved himself a top class goalkicker and has taken over the role recently from Beauden at the Hurricanes.

But while the oldest of the three is sure to start the test, fullback Jordie may be a bench option at best.

''I'm in good physical shape so I'm good to go,'' he said of the goalkicking job. ''I've been preparing each week anyway. I've been doing the reps.''

Beauden Barrett gave Lions key goalkicker Owen Farrell a big rap today.

''He's a great goalkicker. I haven't seen a lot of footage and we don't see a lot from here of club rugby up north but I know he's a great player.

''I played him in the under 20s a few years ago and again since then. He's a sound performer at this level. I can't speak highly enough of him.''