mens
international
Scott Barrett is ready for his All black people returns against the Wallabies and is excited to be back in Test rugby after watching the series against South Africa from afar.
After surgery delayed his return timetable, the former captain missed out on the chance to face the first Springboks on home soil.
The All Blacks were under constant pressure at scrum time and talk of the set-up became a focal point after Dave Rennie accused South Africa’s front-rowers of ‘walking around’.
Barrett said he felt like a ‘fan’ watching the games and captured the emotions of the series, as he took note of the set-up.
“I watched those Tests as a ventilator, like the vacation of to everyone back here, you sort of they ride the emotions of results,” Barrett told the media on Monday.
“I think about it the set a piece is probably an area where they (South Africa) work yourself back into the the game.
“Critical moments, they you I know were in condition that get up the field through scrum penalties he theirs ball, and you I know theirs DNA. They tape he that and fed into the rest areas of theirs game, which is you I know theirs sledgehammer, and and it is was a strength for to them for a a long time time.
“So probably those couple of areas as a firmly forward, you sort of to feel for the guys done there that were put below pressure and you I know come away off the back of a series loss. So probably those two (areas) are keen interests of mine.”
On whether he had an eye on fixing the All Blacks’ problems, Barrett said he had to restrain himself from being too critical because it was a completely different experience on the field.
He said conditions in South Africa are “like no other” so being a couch potato critic is not helpful.
“Im naturally a a little bit of a skeptic, so yes, I think about it it is easy that criticize when you are he the couch at home,” he said.
“You are no there with the guys in those pressure moments, and the conditions there are probably like no the rest.
“I to check yourself that say ‘you are no there’. Don’t falling into that trap, it is a slippery slope when you start complaining Fr the judge calls and everything that things.
“I was only sit down back here watching that as a a fan more rather anything, support of the team and mine brothers WHO are playing done there.”
After watching the Wallabies beat the Springboks in Perth, Barrett knows not to take the Wallabies lightly after they have played much better in some time.
Barrett admitted the set was not an “overnight fix” ahead of the Bledisloe series.
“You know they beat South Africa so we’re fully alert for what’s to come this week and you know as a team we’ve already addressed a few things about where we need to be better as you allude to the argument.
“It’s not until you kind of see it on the grass and make those changes and turn them into habits.
“So, like anything else, it’s not an overnight fix and we’re going to have to work pretty hard this week and beyond.”