The maths is pretty simple - if Foley had kicked as well as Barrett the Wallabies would have won. Funny, though, that no one seems to be making much noise about that. But then again, isn't that a goal-kicker's lot?
And it isn't that, more particularly, Barrett's lot?
After two weeks of the Rugby Championship, he has been the most accurate kicker. He's had 13 shots at goal and missed just one.
He's sitting on a 92 per cent success ratio, which is better than the 87 per cent posted by South Africa's Elton Jantjies who has missed two from 15.
It's considerably better than Foley's 67 per cent return. He was 100 per cent in the first Bledisloe Cup test but landed just 33 per cent in Dunedin.
The Pumas have split their kicking between three players and none had more than three attempts at goal, ruling them out as valid comparisons.
Perhaps it's a uniquely Kiwi-thing that goal-kickers are never lauded, only visible when they have an off day. That doesn't quite stack up, though, because Daniel Carter never had so many problems earning recognition for his goal kicking.
He arrived in test football with a reputation as an outstanding goal kicker and it stayed with him throughout his career. The perception of Carter was always one of an ice-cool customer and good, bad or indifferent, no one ever doubted him or failed to credit him on the many occasions he nailed the crucial kicks.
But with Barrett it's different. There's a perception that goal kicking is his flaw, maybe his only one, but a significant failing nonetheless.
Because of that, it seems there is a readiness and willingness to attribute blame on the bad nights but be strangely oblivious on the good.
This may be Barrett's fate longer term. Perceptions are hard to budge. He's had two great nights goal kicking since the Lions series and no one noticed.
He could probably keep banging them over in the Rugby Championship to a resounding silence, miss a few in the third Bledisloe and hear all about it.
It won't bother him but it is odd.
