When Leinster first announced that All-Black great Jordie Barrett was set for a stint in sky blue the world of rugby ground to a halt.
Since his arrival in Dublin late last year Barrett has certainly justified the hype with both his ball-in-hand skill and leadership having an immediate effect for Leinster.
The versatile back enjoyed a stellar debut in Leinster's Champions Cup clash with Bristol, crossing the whitewash himself and linking up with Sam Prendergast to great effect for one of his tries.
Barrett was put to good use again the following week, starting against Clermont Auvergne not in the centre but from fullback where Hugo Keenan was absent.
While the Kiwi's time in Leinster may be limited to just six months, Barrett's Brad Thorn-esque presence in Dublin has proved particularly beneficial both in deputising for Ireland stars on mandated rest days and in driving standards at a club which has been so close yet so far from silverware these last number of years.
21 December 2024; Jordie Barrett of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
All Black legend hopeful Barrett's stint could have All Blacks impact
While in the immediate term, it might be Leo Cullen's Leinster reaping the rewards of Barrett's decision to spend his off-season in the Northern Hemisphere, All-Black legend Justin Marshall believes that ultimately it will be New Zealand who benefit from having one of their marquee names in Ireland.
Marshall, who enjoyed a glittering career with the All Blacks that saw him earn eighty-one caps and become the second-most capped scrum half in the country's history was speaking on the DSPN Sports Podcast with Martin Devlin when he claimed that Barrett's time in a different system should give New Zealand a revitalised 12.
It’ll be hugely revitalizing for him. He’ll be learning new skills, no doubt about it, defensively, he’ll be defending in a different way. He will be experiencing something he’s never had in his rugby career. He’ll be really refreshed by it.
I think we will get a much better Jordie Barrett for it I’m sure of it in that All Blacks shirt next year.
Despite Barrett forfeiting the holiday period his fellow countrymen are currently enjoying to play in the URC and Champions Cup, Marshall believed that the different manner in which centres are used in Europe will stand to him.
The fact that he’s putting a different jersey on in a different environment, in a different country, with a different crowd and teammates that he’s never played with before.
There’ll be a different mindset in how they use their twelves over there. So he will get a massive opportunity to look at the game from a different perspective. I think that’s healthy.
And then hopefully he gets to slide back into the New Zealand system, not feeling tired, but feeling really enthusiastic about what he can bring in terms of the development of this game like he could become a much better player for what he’s experiencing, and as long as he’s looked after, which I’m sure he will be.
If nothing else, Leo Cullen and Leinster have made it clear that Barrett doesn't stand to be burnt out in blue - a decision made easier by the wealth of international backs now in Leinster's ranks.
However, where Barrett may struggle is ensuring he gets ample game time in the centre of the field, with the temptation to use a player of his calibre at fullback nearly certainly going to prove attractive to Cullen and Jacques Nienaber in the absence of Hugo Keenan come the start of the Six Nations.
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