Sir John Kirwan’s verdict on Scott Barrett captaincy debate as All Blacks legend makes Richie McCaw comparison
Current All Blacks captain Scott Barrett and double Rugby World Cup-winning skipper Richie McCaw.
Sir John Kirwan has rejected the notion Scott Barrett is not playing well enough to justify his place in the All Blacks side amid calls to change the captain.
The second-row forward was named skipper after Scott Robertson took charge of the national team following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Barrett was selected ahead of back-rower Ardie Savea and has led New Zealand over the past 15 months.
However, following some mixed form under Robertson, some have urged the head coach to change his captain and give Savea the responsibility.
Captaincy has ‘looked heavy’ on Barrett
Last weekend, ex-All Blacks manager Darren Shand suggested that it ‘looked heavy’ on Barrett and may be ‘crushing’ him.
That may well be the case and Kirwan has called on the coach and captain to have an “honest chat” about that matter, but the 60-year-old still believes that he is in good enough form.
“The Barrett question is a really interesting one because I still believe he is playing well,” Kirwan said on the Rivals podcast.
“Everyone’s been saying to me that Scott Barrett shouldn’t be captain, it doesn’t look like he enjoys it and don’t think he’s playing well.
“There are three questions there. If he doesn’t like being captain and it’s affecting his play, that means the coach needs to sit down and have a really honest chat with him.
“I still think he’s playing well; he’s got a good work rate.”
Kirwan also made the comparison to double Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw, who was doubted following their 2007 quarter-final elimination.
“I also say this. Richie McCaw after the 2007 World Cup, we were all saying that he can’t captain, there were bad decisions. He even said in his own book: ‘I was thinking about retiring, it was a terrible time’, and then he became our greatest captain,” he said.
“For me, there are a whole lot of these questions that only the players can answer.”
Ardie Savea as captain? Ex-All Blacks manager claims leadership role ‘crushing’ Scott Barrett
This weekend’s clash may well offer a chance to see if the doubters are correct with Barrett being ruled out of the Bledisloe Cup due to a shoulder injury.
Savea will therefore skipper the team as they look to bounce back from their embarrassing defeat to the Springboks.
Kirwan confident in Robertson’s All Blacks
There certainly appear to be more issues for the All Blacks than just the captaincy, but Kirwan is not too concerned by that 43-10 defeat to South Africa.
They were dominated in a number of areas two weeks ago but the former wing remains confident that Robertson will get it right.
“This particular moment of time for the All Blacks is, okay, our scrum is wobbling a wee bit. Is that a reflection of our scrum? Let’s just hope it’s a one-off,” he said.
“Our lineout wobbled a wee bit. Is that a reflection of our lineout? Our lineout has been pretty good. Where were our leaders in the second half when we needed them? Does our leadership need some tweaking?
“The coaching staff will then look at themselves and say: ‘Are we doing too much for the players? Are we not doing enough for the players?’ For me, it’s a moment in time.”
Kirwan pointed to the All Blacks’ 2023 World Cup warm-up defeat as their worst-ever display and remarked that it ended in them reaching the final, losing by just one point to the same side.
“That wasn’t the worst game I’ve seen the All Blacks play, the worst game I’ve seen the All Blacks play is the pre-season game before the World Cup at Twickenham, we got smashed from minute one, and then we came through and went to the final,” he added.
“It’s not a lack of confidence. I believe there are a few things that aren’t working and this All Blacks team will come together, they will be honest, work it out and then come through this, and they will be way better. That’s what I firmly believe.”
