All Blacks captain Scott Barrett has acknowledged that his Super Rugby form has been below standard in the wake of criticism from three ex-All Black pundits.
Former All Blacks Jeff Wilson, Justin Marshall and Mils Muliaina have questioned Barrett’s performances for the Crusaders this season and voiced concern about his form leading into the Test season.
Barrett has taken the criticsim face on.
“I hold myself to a high standard and potentially some of the performances early in the year haven’t been where I’d like,” the All Blacks skipper said when asked about the pundits’ views.
“It’s the media’s job to create interest and I’ve got opinions on performances and possibly those opinions have been not far off the mark.
“Having reflected upon that, I’m looking forward to bounce this week.”
Barrett lost the Crusaders captaincy this season with coach Rob Penney hoping it would ease pressure on him.
“I do enjoy leading and possibly having an extra responsibility may have helped my performances in the past,” Barrett told reporters.
“I think I’ve just got to really put my best foot forward each week for this team and get back to playing some of the best footy I can.”
Penney is backing the star lock to prove his doubters wrong.
“Scoot [Barrett] is fine, he will be determined,” Penney said. “He’s a massively influential guy in our environment and we expect him to gradually get any doubters out of the way and he will kick on in the back end.”
The reaction comes after an episode of The Breakdown, where the three former All Blacks analysed Barrett’s recent impact.
Wilson said he was starting to be concerned about Barrett.
(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
“I’m not sure where Scott Barrett’s form is as a player, I’m a little bit concerned,” Wilson said.
“He didn’t go to Fiji, he’s the All Black captain and I know what he’s capable of as a player. He’s been slow to start this year, I’m not saying he’s not going to be in the All Blacks.
“Just for his confidence and the impact he can have on the group as one of the players that owns his spot and can go out there and leave the rest of the players, he’s going to need some real support this year.”
Marshall said Barrett might benefit from a move to the No.6 jersey for the Crusaders to help him regain form.
“I just feel at the moment, the work he’s doing in the middle is not given him the balance that we know, that he can have as a player,” Marshall said.
“If he was to go off the side of the scrum because he can distribute, he can play second receiver.
“This is for the Crusaders not for the All Blacks. It’s just to find his mojo again. So you can carry hard at blindside. But equally, you can balance your game with ability.
“Don’t have to play as tight, you don’t have to clean every ruck, which he’s doing at the moment, and he’s doing it effectively, temporarily. Maybe that might be refreshing for him as well.”
Wilson agreed with the idea of a positional switch.
“I agree with you because you just want players playing with confidence. He’s got every opportunity to get back to his best, just we haven’t seen it yet and the fact I want the other players to have confidence in him,” said Wilson.
Muliaina said there was plenty of time for Barrett to hit his straps this year.
“He isn’t playing well and you don’t want to see your All Black captains go through Super Rugby and not perform,” Muliaina said.
“I just wonder whether he’s carrying something, I think he’s perhaps carrying an injury. I’m not that worried, though, to be totally honest, I’m not worried because I think it’s a great chance for him.
“I know he’s not the captain of the Crusaders, and the Crusaders are in a good spot in terms of the Super Rugby campaign but I think it’s a good time for him to start sorting out the All Blacks side.
“I’m not worried about his performance later on, I think it could actually be a blessing in disguise, but I do think at some stage, and we’re halfway through, he has to start performing.”
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