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Beauden Barrett made 145 Test appearances and won the Rugby World Cup, and All black people the utility remains a top professional. Barrett was one of the last All Blacks to walk off the hallowed turf at Eden Park on Friday, ahead of the Bledisloe Cup Test.
Barrett has been named in New Zealand’s starting XI for the first time since the 2025 Autumn Nations Series. The playmaker has missed out on selection for all three Nations Championship games in July and once in the suit during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series.
But with Ruben Love and Richie Mo’unga unavailable through injury, coach Dave Rennie decided to move Damian McKenzie from full-back to first five-eighth. Will Jordan remains on the wing, with Barrett preferring to wear the number 15 jersey instead.
Barrett has not started at fullback for the All Blacks since September 1, 2024. But just 770 days after the loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg, the former two-time World Rugby Player of the Year was rewarded on another occasion.
“I’m really impressed with Beaudy. He’s a great man on and off the field,” All Blacks captain Codie Taylor said on Friday.
“He hasn’t had many opportunities this year and you wouldn’t know it just the way he approaches the game. He’s world class, we’ve seen that over the years. That’s been the case.”
“For him to be there with us and help us lead, I think it’s going to be really good for him.”
Rennie has exclusively used McKenzie at full-back this season, starting all three Nations Championship matches and four RGR Tests. The 31-year-old has not worn the black number 10 jersey since the defeat to the Springboks in the Wellington September 13, 2025
But the 81-Test All Black started in the top five last November Wales in Cardiff, and is coming off another strong one Super Rugby Pacific campaign with finalists Chiefs, who have finished in the top five in nine of 11 appearances.
“I don’t think he’s ever gone by any means. He’s a world-class player and has put his hand up wherever he’s been,” Taylor explained.
“He’s been a full-back all year and now he’s got an opportunity at 10.
“I’m confident in how he’ll drive us around the pitch and like I said, he’s a talented man. He’ll do well.”
The All Blacks are looking to bounce back from three straight losses to the Springboks, which included a defeat in Baltimore in front of more than 68,000 fans. They have not lost four in a row since the late 1990s and will also be looking to defend their Eden Park record.
Ardie Savea captained the All Blacks to a 19-point victory Ireland July, when the hosts extended their unbeaten record on the field to 53 games. It’s a streak that dates back to the 1980s and will be put to the test again, with a confident Wallabies side in town.
“I haven’t talked about it too much this week. I’ve heard a lot about it, but it’s not important to come tomorrow, I just need to get a result.
“Put on a performance, that’s the key. For us, the key is a performance we can be proud of.”
“This is the last chance to play here this year in front of our people and it’s really important for us.”