‘He showed why he is All Blacks captain’ – Scott Barrett hailed after improved form for pace-setting Crusaders
Ex-New Zealand hooker James Parsons and All Blacks captain Scott Barrett in action for the Crusaders.
Former All Blacks and Blues hooker James Parsons has sung Scott Barrett’s praises after he delivered an excellent performance for the Crusaders at the weekend.
Much has been said and written about the All Blacks captain and second-rower’s form while in action for the Crusaders during this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Just last week, legendary All Blacks outside backs Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina mentioned the 31-year-old’s recent performances, with the latter saying he “isn’t playing well”.
That was not the first time Barrett‘s form was raised in public but Parsons defended the player a fortnight ago when he rejected the notion that his form has dipped and said he was getting the same treatment as Sam Cane, who also received plenty of criticism when he was All Blacks captain.
Barrett admitted in the build-up to the Crusaders‘ encounter with the Hurricanes that his form has been substandard so far this season and vowed to improve.
And he delivered a fine display in the Crusaders’ 31-24 Super Rugby Pacific triumph over the Hurricanes at the weekend – a result which took them to the top of the standings.
‘Shows exactly why he is All Blacks captain’
“I think the first point I’d make is what he did during the week at his media conference, to me, shows exactly why he is All Blacks captain,” he told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“Because he goes: ‘Yeah, it might not be where it’s at. And I want to get better’.
“Why that, to me, is great leadership is he’s put his hand up publicly, but he’s also given permission to every other player that sometimes comes under the spotlight that don’t avoid it.
“Just front it and move on and then deliver with your actions. And I don’t know, it was just, I still don’t think he was playing poorly, personally, for his position.
“And sometimes it is missed that yes, statistically, they may not be as high, but what he’s doing that allows someone like a Jamie Hanna (Crusaders second-row partner) to shine, you know, fresh off coming back from an injury and so forth.
“So I just think it was a great week of leadership and, you know, almost just showing exactly why he is All Blacks captain and why he will remain All Blacks captain.”
Barrett delivered an impressive performance against the Hurricanes as he had a high work-rate on attack and defence and was at the forefront of the Crusaders’ lineout efforts as he stole some of his opponents’ throw-ins and won seven balls at the set-piece.
His former team-mate at the Christchurch-based outfit, scrum-half Bryn Hall, is delighted with his lineout efforts and overall performance.
‘One area that’s a massive weapon’
“I think that’s probably one area that’s a massive weapon for Scooter (Barrett),” he said. “I think he’s really good in terms of defensive meetings, knowing him and I guess the work that’s done behind the scenes with him and even when Sam Whitelock was there.
“So there’s a lot of intel and preparation that’s probably gone through with him getting a lot more line-out steals at the weekend against the Hurricanes.
“But the contact area has always been good around Scott. And I thought on the weekend against the Hurricanes, on both sides of the ball, I thought he was probably the best that he’s been this season.
“Now probably the stats haven’t shown that in the early part of the season, but for whatever reason, whether he ran into a little bit around the media, the microscope that was under him, I just thought he was relentless in terms of on both sides of the ball.
“And I thought his decision-making defensively as well. Sometimes he’s probably had a little bit of a lick and been able to try and go for the ball, give away a little silly penalty.
“But I thought he did really well at kind of listening to the ref and being able to not give away those penalties that probably have crept into his game in some games in past seasons.
“So a massive result for Scott. And hopefully it’s one that can continue for the rest of the year.”
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