Bernard Jackman hits out at ex-New Zealand star's ‘inaccurate clickbait' comments over Jordie Barrett's move to Leinster
BERNARD JACKMAN has accused Stephen Donald of "clickbait" after suggesting Jordie Barrett should be dropped from the New Zealand starting XV following his move to Leinster.
Barrett, 28, signed for the Blues at the end of last year in a deal that will run until the end of the season.
3
Jordie Barrett moved to Leinster on a short term deal until the end of the season
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
3
Stephen Donald believes Barrett should be left out of New Zealand's starting team
Credit: PA:Empics Sport
3
Bernard Jackman accused him of clickbait
Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription
The All Blacks utility back has scored four tries in nine appearances as
Leo
Cullen's men have gotten to the semi-finals of the
Rugby
Championship
.
However, his involvement in the URC led to Donald arguing that Barrett should not start for the All Blacks.
He argued: "The URC competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby.
"The Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level].
Read More on Leinster Rugby
"Would I pick him in the squad? Yes, of course, he's the vice-captain, remember.
"Would I start him? Not necessarily.
"Nothing to do with his form, but more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and played well all year."
The comments about the
Most read in Rugby Union
He told RTE: "In actual fact the defensive systems in URC would actually be more rigid, more set in stone than Super Rugby.
"Super Rugby is a great product, great skill, plenty of talent but set piece wise and defensively and that tactical element is far and above (in the URC).
Ronan O'Gara bizarrely ends press conference after 23 SECONDS amid La Rochelle's continued poor form
"First hand, I've seen coaches come over from Super Rugby and be shocked at the level of tactical knowledge, the systems they need to put in place for teams to compete in a Northern Hemisphere competition.
"So Stephen Donald, he either doesn't know much about it, or he's just trying to make
clickbait
, but he's totally inaccurate there."
There are currently five South African clubs playing in the URC - the
Stormers
, Dragons, Lions,
Sharks
, and Bulls.
And Jackman believes this has allowed the URC to overtake Super Rugby on a tactical basis.
He added: "That's not knocking Super Rugby, it's a good competition in its own right.
"The URC would compete in that and people in
New Zealand
and Australia who are working in Super Rugby feel that it's gone backwards since the South African's pulled away.
"There's lots of talented players in there, but in terms of actual detail, the Northern Hemisphere and the URC and Champions Cup in particular are more advanced, and that makes it very comparable."
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