Legend has it that when Kevin Barrett, an honest New Zealand player, ended his career, he said, "Now I'm going to make some All Blacks." A few years later, his sons Beauden, Jordie and Scott will start a World Cup match on Wednesday (October 2nd) against Canada. A striking first for this sibling who has already played together in the black jersey, especially against France in June 2018.
They will thus emulate the Vunipola brothers (Elisi, Manu and Fe'ao), tenants with Tonga against Scotland in 1995. And the Pisi brothers (Tusi, Ken and George) who played together in 2015 with Samoa against South Africa and Scotland, but without having started simultaneously.
"I never thought we could end up here," says second row Scott Barrett, recalling the wild games of the siblings (eight children) at their farm in Taranaki province, on the island. North. Because the story of the Barrett brothers is rooted in the rural roots of New Zealand rugby.
"In the garden behind, we joked and said for example: 'He has the victory at the end of the foot to win the World Cup', we invented scenarios and all that kind of jokes, and here we have to pinch to say we are there ", was amused last week Scott, the colossus of the trio, second line (1.97 m, 111 kg) and already 32 selections at 25 years.
Beauden the star
"As brothers and sisters, growing up, everyone takes a different path, but it's great to be together and realize the dream we shared of playing for the All Blacks. There's nothing better than a World Cup, "says Beauden Barrett.
Beauden is "the" star. He was the first to join the All Blacks in 2012. World champion in 2015, he is, at 28, the most cape of the siblings (79 selections). The world's best player in 2016 and 2017 as the opening half, Beauden has since been moved to the back. And Jordie, 22, 12 selections, the youngest of the trio, looks at him with amazed eyes.
"Everyone on the team knows that there is a little waiting around, but this craze is pretty cool." Aligned on the wing, Jordie admits that he can not call his elder other than "Beaudy". "There would be repercussions if I called it differently." Surely some "caps" in the garden, behind the farm, at the foot of Mount Taranaki ...
With AFP