All Blacks: Beauden Barrett opens up on the ‘mental challenge’ he faced during omission from Test side

Beauden Barrett has opened up on how challenging it was to be on the outskirts of the All Blacks Test team during most of their Test matches earlier this year.

Barrett returned to the All Blacks’ starting line-up at full-back during Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies and delivered a solid performance in his side’s 50-19 victory at Eden Park.

Prior to that, he only saw action as a second-half replacement in the final Test for the All Blacks during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in Baltimore, USA.

Few Test appearances for the All Blacks in 2026

Barrett only featured in midweek games in South Africa and apart from not playing in the Tests against the Boks in that country, he also did not feature in any of the All Blacks’ Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland in New Zealand in July.

“It did challenge me mentally a little bit with not being selected and just feeling a little bit off the pace,” said the 35-year-old. “When you’re in the 23 or the 15, you’re in the thick of it and you feel that flow, the connections, the combinations and all of that.

“I’d be lying if I said that it hasn’t affected me, but the important thing is to bounce back, focus on what I do well, and be consistent.”

Although he provided mostly off-field support to the All Blacks during their 3-1 series defeat against the Springboks, Barrett revealed that he regained his confidence after returning to the Test team’s training environment.

A late injury to Richie Mo’unga saw first-choice full-back Damian McKenzie being shifted to fly-half for the first Bledisloe Cup Test which meant Barrett wore the number 15 jersey against the Wallabies.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the All Blacks winning, so if I’m contributing outside of the 23 or within it, then that’s my role in the team,” explained the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year.

Jordie Barrett ‘wouldn’t look out of place’ in the back-row as Dave Rennie claims All Blacks star has ‘taken his game to another level’

Barrett said All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was clear in what he (Barrett) had to do to get a look-in for Test selection.

‘No mixed messages’

“He was telling me he was liking how I’m training, he was liking my contribution and it was clear that I wasn’t up in the pecking order, so I had to really work for it or wait for my opportunity,” he explained.

“The good thing is we’re both honest with one another. We know where we stand and there’s no mixed messages.”

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Barrett also revealed that he did not listen to negative comments about his selection at full-back in the build-up to the Eden Park encounter.

“You feel a bit of an undertone; it’s there, but I don’t waste my time with that to be fair,” said the 146-Test All Black.

Barrett was recalled to New Zealand’s starting line-up at Eden Park alongside his brother Scott, who made his Test return after a lengthy injury lay-off, while their younger sibling, Jordie, who has been one of the All Blacks’ best players in 2026, was also in the run-on side.

“Having missed out on recent Test matches, it meant a lot to get back out there and to play alongside my brothers, especially with Scott’s return – that always feels really good but this one was super special,” he added.

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