How the incredible Barrett brothers rejuvenated the All Blacks

Kevin ‘Smiley’ Barrett featured for province Taranaki nearly 200 times

“There was always work to be done. So we always saw Mum and Dad doing that, coming home cooking us dinner, getting us ready for school. So if you relate that to your rugby it’s about striving to be better, to be the best you can be.”

By their teenage years, the trio could pass off both hands and kick with both feet, making them most of the space on the family dairy farm in Rahotu, an hour’s drive south of New Plymouth. Eldest brother Kane was pretty talented, too, just breaking through with the Blues when concussions brought a premature close to his career in 2014.

Beauden was first to break through, barely out of his teens when making a first Super Rugby appearance and only 21 when helping the All Blacks to a record win over Ireland on international debut. His role as the bench impact back was crucial to the 2015 World Cup win, while two World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year awards followed in 2016 and 2017 after stepping up to be Dan Carter’s fly half successor.

Beauden Barrett has had a fine tournaemnt

Of late, he has embraced his reinvention as an almost full-time full-back at international level – he has been outstanding throughout this World Cup, described as the “glue” in New Zealand’s side by head coach Ian Foster. He may lack the acceleration of his youth but there are few smarter backfield brains at this tournament. An impending deal with Toyota Verblitz will see Beauden move to Japan for at least a season, with the 32-year-old weighing up whether to extend his stay or return to New Zealand to try to make a fourth World Cup. This could yet be his last All Blacks hurrah.

To do it alongside his brothers will fill Beauden with immense pride. That either could have a claim to be the best player in the family will, too. Lock Scott has come on leaps and bounds since the last tournament, forcing apart long-time second row partners Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock after producing a series of unignorable performances. If his sending off in the final warm-up against the Springboks shows he still has the occasional rough edge, Scott has become one of New Zealand’s most consistent performers.

Centre Jordie and lock Scott have come into their own at international level

Jordie Barrett is probably the most talented of the Barrett bunch, possessing a blend of Scott’s size and Beauden’s brilliance. After starting his professional career primarily at full-back, his development as a top-class international inside centre – or second five-eight, as the Kiwis call it – has solved a problem spot for the All Blacks.

His ability to offer real carrying threat and add playmaking options as a second distributor makes him a vital figure on attack, while he has come on defensively, too. Jordie is leading New Zealand’s set-piece defence at this tournament, and made 17 tackles in a player of the match performance in the semi-final against Argentina.

“He was massive in defence, he attempted the most tackles,” defence coach Scott McLeod said of Jordie’s performance. “But the most pleasing thing for me was he actually applied pressure.

“He saw the pictures a lot earlier, he backed himself to go and do it and those around him supported that and he made quite a difference for us.”

If New Zealand are to beat South Africa on Saturday, you somehow feel at least one of the three will be key. Beauden, of course, already has one World Cup winners’ medal, his late breakaway try putting the seal on back-to-back All Blacks’ triumphs in 2015. Come Saturday night, the Barrett mantlepiece could be gilded again, three more medals a fitting decoration for a remarkable sporting family.

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