After a “whirlwind” last few days, All Blacks veteran Jordie Barrett says the side are back in test mode as they prepare to bookend Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series with a victory in Baltimore on Sunday.
Both sides are coming off a 20-hour flight from Johannesburg to Washington following Sunday’s third test, which shortens the preparation window for the final clash of the series in the US.
“It’s still a test match against the Boks for the All Blacks, but it’s certainly been a whirlwind 48 hours. We poured a whole lot of mental and physical energy into the test in Soweto, come off second best and four hours later we’re sitting across an aisle on a chartered flight with the Boks straight to Baltimore,” Barrett told Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB.
“We’re firmly on the ground now, we had a good training session this morning and test week is well underway.”
The All Blacks have lost captain Ardie Savea, stand-in captain Luke Jacobson and Barrett’s backline partner Quinn Tupaea for the fourth test after all suffered injuries in Soweto, adding to the injury toll for the tour. The Springboks have meanwhile made just two backline changes from the side that won the third test.
Coach Dave Rennie will name his All Blacks squad tomorrow with Barrett in the running as captain, with the likes of Codie Taylor and Patrick Tuipulotu.
Asked if he had spent any time considering whether or not the Baltimore test doesn’t count to the series because it was being played outside South Africa, Barrett said he believed that a drawn series is still alive.
“Certainly not. Like this Greatest Rivalry [series] was always a four-game series. There was a lot been talk about trying to win a test series in South Africa and that’s what we wanted to do ... this rivalry series is a four-game series and we’ve got an opportunity to go two-all against a team who’s been well established back-to-back world champions. We’ve only been together for a little while and we’ve got a chance to go two-all against them and that’s the opportunity that excites us for this weekend.”
Barrett, who has started every test for the All Blacks under Rennie, said the side were heading in the right direction under the new coach.
“We’ve learned a lot about ourselves in the past month and you do learn a lot about yourself against the best team in the world and on the road. I’m confident we’re heading in the right direction, that’s where we want to go and if we want to go to that place we’re probably going to end up playing the South Africans in a quarter-final in a Rugby World Cup.
“We are not overly pleased to be down 2-1 in the series, but look, we haven’t lost all hope in this group and there’s a lot of positives to come out of our last three games against the Boks. We’re not far away.
“What was it 33-16 in that first test at Ellis Park and we felt like South Africa probably had the wood over us for about 55 minutes. Couple of moments they get a yellow card and we win by two or three tries and we walk away from that test match all happy and we probably felt like we played better in game two and lost by seven points. And that’s just the way test matches are working at the moment and unfortunately we were on the wrong side of it again in game three but there’s an opportunity for us to level the series two-all this week in the States. So it’s a completely different kettle of fish.”
Barrett added that the South Africa leg was “the most memorable and enjoyable tests you’ll play as an All Black”.
“I think just the country in general and their history and the relationship with the All Blacks and there’s certainly a great rivalry also between the two countries and enough flying at the moment in terms of their rugby. They’re back-to-back world champions. They’re a country that probably haven’t been as united in the past but it seems like rugby is bringing everyone together at the moment and they’re certainly riding a high. It’s tough playing in their conditions but it’s also the most memorable and enjoyable tests you’ll play as an All Black as well.
“As hard as the last three weeks have been for me, I’ve absolutely loved it.”
Cameron McMillan has been a sports journalist since 2003 and is NZME’s Deputy Head of Sport.
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