Beauden Barrett Opens Up on All Blacks’ Sibling Connection Ahead of Autumn Tour
As the All Blacks prepare to face England at Twickenham this weekend, legendary fly-half Beauden Barrett has offered a rare glimpse into his family’s deep rugby roots. In an exclusive interview with Mail Sport, the 131-cap veteran discussed his lesser-known brother Blake’s club exploits in London and the siblings’ competitive upbringing on the family farm in New Zealand.
Hailing from the rugby hotbed of Taranaki, the Barrett brothers – Beauden, Scott, Jordie and builder Blake – have collectively left an indelible mark on the sport. While Beauden’s dazzling skills have cemented his status as an All Blacks great, it was his visit to watch Blake’s club side, the London Kiwis, that provided the catalyst for this insightful conversation.
“Our brother, Blake, plays for them,” Beauden explained. “It was an entertaining watch, 10-0, and everyone enjoyed a beer after the game. Blake’s a builder, playing cricket and rugby over here. He’s the ultimate club man.”
The 32-year-old, who now plies his trade for Toyota Verblitz in Japan, went on to reminisce about the brothers’ spirited backyard battles, each aiming to emulate their heroes like Andrew Mehrtens and Christian Cullen. This competitive streak has undoubtedly contributed to the family’s remarkable success on the international stage.
As the All Blacks navigate the scrutiny and expectations that come with their iconic status, Beauden acknowledged the unique challenges of maintaining that level of dominance. However, he believes the influx of data and analysis in modern rugby has made it increasingly difficult to innovate, a factor that has helped level the playing field.
“The big prize is every four years and South Africa have won the most recent two competitions,” he said. “You’ve got half a dozen teams who on any given day can win and as a fan that’s probably what you want.”
With the England clash on the horizon, Barrett expressed his admiration for Marcus Smith, the talented Harlequins playmaker who will likely line up against him at Twickenham.
“He’s a fantastic and exciting player. I really enjoy watching him play. He plays the game with lots of ambition and spark and clearly backs himself, which is one of his biggest strengths.”
As the 2023 Rugby World Cup draws closer, Barrett’s quest to secure a historic third Webb Ellis Cup trophy and potentially become the most capped All Black of all time remains a tantalizing prospect. However, for now, the focus is on reuniting with his family, including the ever-present Blake, as the All Blacks embark on their Autumn tour.
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