In a stunning revelation that left All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson wide-eyed with surprise, Scott Barrett highlighted a surprising statistic about teammate George Bower after New Zealand's latest triumph over Australia. The game, which ended in a 28-14 victory for the All Blacks, also marked a personal milestone for Bower, who scored his first professional try at the age of 33.
The match in Perth was not just another notch in the All Blacks' belt; it was a scene of personal victories and statistical anomalies. George Bower, a seasoned player with almost 150 games under his belt for the Crusaders, Otago, and New Zealand, finally crossed the whitewash in the dying moments of the game. "Without looking too far ahead, it was Will Jordan’s 50th and George Bower scored his first-ever professional try," Barrett proudly shared during the post-match press conference.
"Is it?" Robertson exclaimed, before adding, "Wow, how good."
The late try was the cherry on top of a game that saw the All Blacks assert their dominance early with three first-half tries. Despite the win, the New Zealand squad could not wrestle the Rugby Championship title away from the Springboks, who sealed their victory against Argentina. However, Barrett reflected positively on the team's performance. "It was pleasing to finish the Rugby Championship with a win like that. It wasn’t pretty but we hung tough in greasy conditions," he commented.
Looking forward, the All Blacks face a challenging tour in the northern hemisphere, with matches against Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. The lessons from the Rugby Championship are fresh, and Barrett acknowledges the need for improvement. "We’ve learnt that we have to front-up every week when you put the All Blacks jersey on," he noted, hinting at the tough lessons learnt and the scars carried by the team from their defeats.
The upcoming tour is not just about redemption but also adaptation, as Barrett pointed out the team's need to adjust to on-field decisions and pressure at the breakdown. Despite some issues, such as an inconsistent lineout on a wet night, the All Blacks captain remains optimistic about applying these lessons to future games, concluding, "We want to have a bit of a refresh before we head up north and I guess chase the Grand Slam."
2,193 posts
In a stunning revelation that left All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson wide-eyed with surprise, Scott Barrett highlighted a surprising statistic about teammate George Bower after New Zealand's latest triumph over Australia. The game, which ended in a 28-14 victory for the All Blacks, also marked a personal milestone for Bower, who scored his first professional try at the age of 33.
The match in Perth was not just another notch in the All Blacks' belt; it was a scene of personal victories and statistical anomalies. George Bower, a seasoned player with almost 150 games under his belt for the Crusaders, Otago, and New Zealand, finally crossed the whitewash in the dying moments of the game. "Without looking too far ahead, it was Will Jordan’s 50th and George Bower scored his first-ever professional try," Barrett proudly shared during the post-match press conference.
"Is it?" Robertson exclaimed, before adding, "Wow, how good."
The late try was the cherry on top of a game that saw the All Blacks assert their dominance early with three first-half tries. Despite the win, the New Zealand squad could not wrestle the Rugby Championship title away from the Springboks, who sealed their victory against Argentina. However, Barrett reflected positively on the team's performance. "It was pleasing to finish the Rugby Championship with a win like that. It wasn’t pretty but we hung tough in greasy conditions," he commented.
Looking forward, the All Blacks face a challenging tour in the northern hemisphere, with matches against Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. The lessons from the Rugby Championship are fresh, and Barrett acknowledges the need for improvement. "We’ve learnt that we have to front-up every week when you put the All Blacks jersey on," he noted, hinting at the tough lessons learnt and the scars carried by the team from their defeats.
The upcoming tour is not just about redemption but also adaptation, as Barrett pointed out the team's need to adjust to on-field decisions and pressure at the breakdown. Despite some issues, such as an inconsistent lineout on a wet night, the All Blacks captain remains optimistic about applying these lessons to future games, concluding, "We want to have a bit of a refresh before we head up north and I guess chase the Grand Slam."