mens
nations-championship
Even in your 149th Test match, All black people top five Beauden Barrett experiences butterflies before heading out to represent his country.
However, this week in Cardiff is extra special in more ways than one, as Barrett will lead the All Blacks in a Test match for the first time in his career.
The experienced playmaker will have his older brother Scott, who captained the All Blacks on several occasions, by his side in the leadership group as Dave Rennie’s side prepare to take Wales in the championship of nations.
With Barrett often away from action at fullback, group leaders such as Scott, front five Richie Mo’unga and Anton Lienert-Brown will lead in their respective roles.
Rennie made ten changes to the All Blacks side that won convincingly Scotland last weekend at Murrayfield in Edinburgh but retained seven starters including the Barrett brothers, Fletcher Newell, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Quinn Tupaea and Josh Moorby.
After going through some light drills at the Principality Stadium alongside his All Blacks teammates, Barrett said how he was feeling heading into Saturday’s Test match.
“That’s it a great honor. I am had the honor before in a game, a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham, but doing that in a Test match in a stadium like this in Wales, such a proud nation,” Barrett told reporters.
“It is, yes, a great opportunity for i, but yes, one that It’s me very proud from.”
The versatile playmaker said he won’t be doing anything special while leading the team, other than leading from the front.
“That’s it more of the the same really. It’s me no it goes that try it and do anything that I I didn’t already. That’s it Fr property that relationship with the the judge at 15.
“There a bit of distance there, so how I manage that, I power to be doing a a little more extra shuttles. But I am Got great support around me.
“So yes, we are Got a good structure around WHO will lead the forward, and with Richie Hill will be a bit closer that things and so on, as I said, we are Got a good plan.”
After learning Sunday night, Barrett described his reaction to Rennie’s decision.
“Yeh I flat away had one of those nodes in yours intestines when you get said something that puts you he the rub of yours headquarters.
“But flat far away that was mixed emotions, excitement, nerves, bTue yes, what an opportunity.
“He (Scott) great, great horny (for me). He is really enjoying it the role that he is playing he this team at the moment, and so is Jordie.”