NOW THAT LEINSTER finally have their shiny new signing in their hands the next challenge is to figure out how Jordie Barrett best fits into a star-studded squad.
Barrett is a versatile backline option but adding him to a team that already boasts a wealth of Test-level quality will squeeze some key players out of the starting XV. Leinster would point to the fact they rarely have a full hand to select from – for this weekend’s Champions Cup meeting with Clermont the province will be without Hugo Keenan, Ciarán Frawley, James Lowe and Jamie Osborne, narrowing Leo Cullen’s selection problems.
Yet Cullen and his coaches will still face some big decisions to fit Barrett into the picture this season.
Most of Barrett’s rugby has been played at inside centre and fullback. At Test level he was primarily used at 15 in his early years with the All Blacks before shifting to 12 in the lead up to the 2023 World Cup.
His most recent start at 15 for club or country came two years ago in a New Zealand win at Murrayfield. He’s started 45 games for the All Blacks and Hurricanes since, all at 12.
The player himself feels his best home is inside centre, but expects to play some of his rugby with Leinster at fullback.
“I’d like to think (I’m) a number 12 that can probably play 15, and that’s the way I see myself,” he says.
“I mean, at a stretch I can play wing still, but I think most of my value is at 12. But I still enjoy 15, even since transitioning into the midfield with the All Blacks and the Hurricanes, throughout the week I’ve always trained at fullback.
So I’ve continued to try and grow my game in that space, high ball, kicking, and who knows, I might play at 15 at some stage too, which I’m excited about.”
If Leinster do deem centre to be Barrett’s most effective position, the knock-on effect will be interesting.
When introduced for the injured Frawley in Bristol on Sunday, Leinster rejigged their backline to accomodate Barrett at inside centre. Robbie Henshaw shifted to 13, Garry Ringrose moved to the wing and Jimmy O’Brien took Frawley’s place at fullback. At 12, Barrett immediately made a positive impact on the game and his link-play with out-half Sam Prendergast was excellent.
If Barrett does emerge as Leinster’s starting 12, it leaves Henshaw and Ringrose competing directly with each other for the 13 shirt. Barrett also played a lot of rugby at 13 across his first two seasons with the Hurricanes, but it’s been years since he regularly started games there.
The fullback option is also one to watch. Barrett is listed as a fullback on Leinter’s website and while he remains a World Class option at 15, the province are not short on quality in that area. Keenan has been the main man at 15 but Osborne has established himself as a genuine contender at fullback, with O’Brien also part of that conversation.
Osborne and O’Brien are used across the Leinster backline so the New Zealander’s arrival could impact their role in the squad. If Leinster prefer Barrett as a centre, it adds another layer of competition for Osborne, who is already fighting with Henshaw and Ringrose for a place in Leinster’s European Cup midfield – with Ringrose injured last season Osborne started all four of Leinster’s Champions Cup knockout games at 12.
Osborne can also play on the wing but only started once there last season.
Barrett has played on both wings in the past and would offer Leinster a different type of threat out wide. At 6’4″, he is a big physical presence and would be a real asset in the air. He’s not known for his speed but his excellent skillset would make up for any lack of pace – indeed, when he plays 12 Barrett likes to drift out to these wide channels anyway.
Centre sounds like Barrett’s home in this Leinster team but don’t be surprised to see him shift around the backline. He even has a Test start at 10 to his name.
“In some ways I was a bit of a jack of all trades and master of none for a number of years there, but I feel like it’s probably stood me in great stead for where I am at the moment,” he says.
“I feel like I’ve been around forever, but I’m 27 and I feel like my best rugby is ahead of me, which is positive. Hence the reason to try to come up here at this point in my career.
But I mean playing even in Test matches, left wing, right wing, 10 once, plenty of 15 and 12 gives you a good perspective and understanding of what the guy inside you demands or needs out on the pitch, and same with other guys in similar positions.
“So when you’re trying to solidify yourself in one position, whether you’re 12 or fullback, it gives you a great understanding of what your wingers need or what your 10 needs or what your nine needs.
“So feel like I’m in a position now where I understand the game pretty deeply, and hopefully it puts me in good stead for the rest of my career.”
All of the above is to assume Barrett will start the big games for Leinster. Given the quality at their disposal, Cullen could continue to lean on his Ireland internationals with Barrett acting as an impact player off the bench.
Yet that would be a waste of his talents. Barrett is here for half a season with the purpose of selling tickets for Leinster’s games at the Aviva and helping push the team over the line in Europe.
To get full bang for their buck, Leinster need to have Barrett in their starting 15.
Lads, Barrett is your best 12 and RG is your best lock. Just embrace it. Meanwhile, the rest of us will sleep easy in our beds knowing that we don’t have any foreign props blocking the path of Championship standard IQ front rows. Unless we’re Munster fans obvs.
@Justin Robinson: what about slimani? Or does he not count
@Patrick O’Sullivan: Nah. Totally different. He’ll help bring on the young players at Leinster, you see.
@Justin Robinson: he’s on a playing contract and not in as a coach. Very hypocritical comment
@Justin Robinson: great comment, Ulster fans kicking off lets go! ;)
Love that heading ..no, jordie Barrett offers leinster bums on seats . Ka Ching ……
He’s up with Tuipulotu and DDA in the best 12 in the world conversation.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: The Barretts are freaks, 3 brothers? All Blacks? It’s mental really, they’re a league above
I hope that Leinster have the final say where he is utilised and not Jordi or the NZRU. Like for example this weekend I hope he’s played at 15(imo his best position) as he’s a straight swap for Keenan with Frawley also out. I am a bit hesitant though that he is the one calling the shots as he came on at 12 last weekend and Leinster moved henshaw to 13, ringrose to 14 and job to 15 where I would’ve imagined jordi doing a straight swap would’ve been an easier transition(he played well at 12 don’t get me wrong). But if Leinster need him at 13 or wing or 15 then I hope they have the final say in that not him or the NZRU. For E.g if henshaw is injured my first option to bring into 12 would be Osborne(if fit)as I feel that’s his best position(just my opinion).
@Ian1989: Why do you think 15 is his best position? NZ and Canes seem to have settled on 12… or do you think that was more to accommodate his brother at 15? I wouldn’t have followed his career that closely to date.
@Paul Ennis: I’m a canes fan, followed them since 03. I think if laumape didn’t move on jordi would’ve remained at 15. Canes were very reluctant to let laumape go but he wasnt getting a look in with the national side(he should’ve gotten much more opportunities imo). But this is just my opinion having watched him a lot for his club and country over the last 6/7 years. The coaches know the players better than any us obviously so I am most likely wrong.
If you need to get him into the team and don’t want to upset the Henhaw/Rongrose partnership – I’d throw him in at 11. Lowe is playing like a drain these days..
@Chris McWilliams: Ringrose is lucky that Keenan and JO are injured, especially with the Lions coming up.
@Justin Robinson: He hasn’t been great alright. Same could have been said of Henshaw a good few years ago. If Lowe’s selling point is his left boot, it’s gone a bit cold of late..
I think you play him at 12 and put Henshaw on the bench. JOB at 15, Larmour 14 and Tommy O’Brien/Turner 11. Osborne is still injured.
@Con Cussed: No ,have your best available players on the pitch, I liked Gary on the wing.A clever player ,the angles, the runs he made tore Bristol to shreds
I don’t think he’ll start if everyone is available, same with Snyman. Those top level minutes are too valuable to the IRFU. He will get bums off seats frequently in URC though I’m sure
@Mark O’Keeffe: He’ll start the big games. Leinster do enough for Ireland as it is. They are entitled to pick whoever they want after the Six Nations. I think Leo is starting to stand up to IRFU a bit and say: Enough’s enough. We’ve facilitated Ireland long enough at our expense. Time to do whatever we need to do to win Europe and URC again. Barret would not have joined Leinster just to play URC. NZ Rugby would have insisted on him playing at the highest level to keep him Test match fit. If Barrit was just going to play URC, he may as well stay home and play Super Rugby.
@Conor Lynott: I don’t think Cullen is any position to dictate terms to the IRFU. The national team generates the income that funds the provinces. Many believe Cullen has underperformed given the resources he has. I think he really needs to deliver in both CC and URC this season and there can be absolutely no excuses if he doesn’t
@Michael Corkery: Cullen would be well in his rights to complain if Snyman and Barrit are fit for a champions cup final and IRFU don’t let him pick them. On the one hand, you want Ireland to do well, but on the other you are perfectly happy for the IRFU to effectively tie one hand behind his back, and then sneer at him for not winning anything. If you want Ireland to win Six Nations to win every year, limit the size of the Leinster squad and limit minutes of foreign players, and operate on a reduced squad,fine, but don’t complain if Leinster don’t win anything, or have weaknesses that get exposed by Toulouse, because you made your call to prioritise Ireland. When we don’t have the resources of the French, and you Leinster mainly as a feeder for Ireland, something has to give.
@Mark O’Keeffe: This weekend will probably be a bit of a blow out if Clermont decide to bring a scratch squad to Dublin. Leinster will get away with a little bit more rotation. Henshaw and McCarthy probably deserve a rest this weekend to allow the 2 boys to start (and keep the IRFU target minutes on track). I would like to see Osborne at 15 if he is available with JOB and Larmour to continue on the wings. I would imagine the props will swap jerseys this weekend and Doris will come back into the backrow. How to get a bit of a rest for Josh is the question? Start Penny this weekend? My team: 15 Osborne 14 Larmour 13 Ringrose 12 Barrett 11 JOB 10 Prendergast 9 JGP 8 Doris 7 Penny 6 Conan 5 Ryan 4 Snyman 3 Clarkson 2 Kelleher 1 Porter
@Conor Lynott: I don’t think the IRFU can stop Leo picking the team he wants when it comes to the important games. I think they try to influence rather than dictate selections.
@Mark O’Keeffe: The IRFU don’t need established internationals to start in all the European games. If anything their interests are better served by their being rested
@Conor Lynott: it sounds like some sort of preparing the excuses for yet another season of underachieving by Leinster. Sure the IRFU limit the playing time of the senior Irish intls players but within that constraint, the provinces HC pick their team. The choice of when/where to play Barrett, Snyman and Slimani is 100% Leinster’s
@Conor Lynott: jaysus lad where are you getting this information from and who are your sources or are you just pulling this from your ar$e. NZ rugby have no control or say once the player moves outside their window. The only day they have is when he needs to return to be eligible for international call ups. you’re trying to say Leo is standing up to the Irfu but is basically being dictated to by NZ rugby. There is no evidence to suggest he is putting it up to the Irfu, in fact it’s the opposite. He started playing Prendergast after Irfu called him up. He tried Osbourne at full back after Ireland did. It looks to me that Leinster and Ireland are working in tandem more than ever
@Conor Lynott: Didn’t Cullen state a couple of years ago that he’d love to see the Irish team with a full Leinster XV !!
Ulster, Munster & Connacht are surplus to the IRFU !
@Lulu: I suppose that would be an aspiration of any coach that their team would become the national one! I’m sure he was aware that it was also very unrealistic as well.