It’s time for the Barretts to go

There are calls for various coaches and the return of players like Mo’unga and even Jaws, which actually might be pretty smart. But while some of the legends could add value, that no longer includes former great Beauden Barrett and former not so greats Scott and Jordie.

Jordie was an accomplished fullback and I thought given his size he would be a success at 12. But I can’t think of any moment where he has ignited the NZ attack. How far they are from the days of Nonu and Umaga.

Scott is the strongest of the brothers now, but still not anywhere near a Retallik or the best of the South African locks.

For NZs sake, and rugby is more interesting when they are formidable, I hope the days of 3 Barretts on the park are over. Whether there should even be one Barrett out there is debateable. I’d try it without any of them and include Damien McKenzie on the list.

Fabien Holland the ABs young star's out injured (shoulder) ... could be available for SA tour.

The feeding system is deficient as is evidenced by the performance of the Baby AB's year after year Neither of the Barrett at present would nt be even considered as Springbok zelection of they were SA players/ The best of the three was in his prime Beauden - biot he is not in his prome anymore and is now the England George Ford,

Jordie played for Leinster in the last season and was definitely not a house on fire on that level and Scott is the equavalent of Moerat as a lock, MWhitelock or Jaws in evidence anymore,

Ardie Savea is also not what he used to be and is reaching retirement age as well. He was in 2024 and 2025 much less of a factor than he was in his prime.

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Mike, your assessment of Jordie’s performance at Munster last year is complete bullshit! He was along with Snyman widely reported to regularly star for the team during his time there!

That aside, he should be playing at fullback instead of 12 as he has the height (6ft 5”) to help retrieve the endless box kicks from your lot where we have been disastrous to say the least and can boot the ball a mile when required.

Leicester at 12 and Tupaea at 13 (or vice versa)gives the ABs a power packed midfield. Jordan moves to the right wing and Clarke stays on the left. We have a myriad of good wingers who can wait in the background for their chance.

Beauden is definitely past his best as he refuses to take the line on any more and should be only used as a back up bench player in case of injuries given his experience. His kicking has also been abysmal.

That leaves DMac/Mounga as current choices at 10. The jury is still out on that one.

Scott Barrett may very well lose the captaincy depending on who gets Razor’s job but in my mind has not played anywhere near his best since taking on that role. Logical choices as captain are Ardie/Taylor as they’re really the only ones guaranteed to start the crucial tests.

That’s my 2 cents worth……

Agree with most of that Moolaa and the 3 three quarter line you suggest is potent. The flyhalf berth on 2023 form should go to Mo’unga. But is he the same player? DMac can be brilliant, but I don’t see him as WC choice.

Jordie played for Leinster, not Munster...but he played well, especially in the final.

Crazy to think that NZ have two options at 10 and one of them is Dmac.

I've always seen him as a cream player. When things are going well he'll make you look even better but when things get tough he will never be there to turn them around. To me, he's massively overrated.

Plum, it’s hard for a 10 to look good when his forwards are being dominated like the Boks’ pack has been doing to the ABs of recent times. You’ve said it yourself, he looks good when the team is going forward. Think your Sacha’s situation for example. Would he be looking so good behind any other pack than the Boks? I think not!

Also DMac almost single handedly saved the ABs vs Scotland if you remember. Things opened up under his direction when he came on and he scored that ridiculous try to seal the deal!

Like Jordan, he can create something out of nothing so has to be on the park in my opinion.

My bad Draad!!

Scott B is another example of a quality player that definitely doesn't need the added burden of captaincy

I do not think that the AB;s was the tam it was ford ecades over the last two years, The are particularly short of Tight 5 players - with Sititi being a promising youngster loosie and Savea slowing down as he got older,

However, the problem is that the AB team looks comparatively weak compared to teams like Eng land. Fance and South Africa, Since 2023 the AB's lwon 1match against SA and lost 5.

To my mind the feeding trough is at low evel - with teh AB school and Under20 rugby being insiffificient, I think theor are two issues that coul change the AB's to make NZ rugby great and those are -

1. destruction by NZ of Super Rugby - where the NZ rugby fanchies are now not meeting stringisg opponents othe than the internal matches losin g millions in the processs; and
2. the ban on foreign club playes not being selected to play for the AB's. being lifted,