It's one thing to become an elite-level talent in one position, but Jordie Barrett's versatility has given the New Zealand talent scope to explore his options in a variety of roles.
The Hurricanes star has established himself as one of rugby 's best full-backs and reigned as the All Blacks' go-to No. 15 in recent years. However, he'll turn back the clock when he starts at inside centre in Sunday's Super Rugby Pacific clash at home to the Chiefs.
Barrett, 25, hasn't started a Super Rugby fixture in midfield since April 2019 given how well-suited his 6'5" frame is to playing among the back three. His output at full-back (or sometimes on the wing) makes it easy to forget the youngest of the Barrett brothers once impressed as a centre for New Zealand's under-20s.
“I think 12 is the most comfortable position for me,” he told reporters on Friday as Jason Holland's side look to climb from eighth, albeit having played two games fewer than many of their Super Rugby Pacific peers. “This week at training, I haven't felt clunky, which is a good thing.”
'Clunky' isn't a word one tends to associate with Barrett, who has grown accustomed to gliding through enemy lines for the 'Canes and Ian Foster's All Blacks. It's easy to see why that ability to bust down opposition defences could translate well to the middle of the park, a role he's yet to embrace at international level.
Foster has trialled a number of centre combinations since taking over in 2019, with David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane among the most impressive candidates last year. It just so happens Barrett will audition against an All Blacks-accredited midfield when the Chiefs travel to Wellington come Sunday.
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“I'll need a bit of an edge going into the weekend playing against some quality midfielders in Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown, but I've felt good,” he continued. "It's exciting. I'm able to get my hands on the ball a lot and contribute. I've been asked to do something for the team, so it's something I've just jumped into.”
Foster is by no means stuck for options in that part of the pitch, with Crusaders star Havili enjoying a successful transition to centre and the equally malleable Ioane arguably New Zealand's best player of 2021. The All Blacks will also look forward to the return of Damian McKenzie following his sabbatical in Japan, which will end in time for him to return as an option at full-back and fly-half in time for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
One could argue Barrett's combination of height and athleticism make him undroppable at 15, in the same way Leicester full-back Freddie Steward (also 6'5") now looks like one of the first names on England 's team sheet. But it rarely hurts to have more strings to one's bow, and the option of reintroducing Barrett to his centre roots ahead of next year's World Cup in France is a daunting prospect for New Zealand's opponents.
