16 hours ago
'Express yourself' - All Blacks skipper Barrett backs new boys to shine
All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett says he has full confidence the four Test debutants named to play France in Dunedin tomorrow will replay the faith show in them by the selectors.
Lock Fabian Holland and No.8 Christian Lio-Willie will start against France, with prop Ollie Norris and loose forward D'Plessis Kirifi potentially making their debuts off the reserves bench.
And of them all, Barrett, not known for overly praising his teammates, reserved the highest of compliments for Kirifi, the 28-year-old Hurricanes player who has had to bide his time.
When pressed today after the captain's run under the roof on a drizzly day in the deep south about why he believed the team would be fully aligned despite the several new faces, Barrett replied: 'Du'Plessis and Fabian – both of those boys were in and around the group for the majority of the northern tour last season.
'I actually said to Du'Plessis that he's certainly ready for Test match rugby. He plays a physical game, combative, loves the breakdown. He's going to be a real asset to this team.'
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That qualifies as gushing for the circumspect Barrett, who will pack down alongside Holland in the second row, with another lock, Tupou Vaa'i, named at blindside flanker in what is easily the biggest selection surprise.
Ardie Savea, left, trains with Du'Plessis Kirifi at the captain's run in Dunedin. (Source: Photosport)
'We're right in behind those boys and they have proud families in behind them,' Barrett said. 'As always it's about them going out there and expressing themselves in the jersey – trusting themselves and their instincts.
'Tupou has had another great Super Rugby season and is getting more and more experienced at Test match level. It's a great asset to us if he can play lock or six.'
The All Blacks have lost three Tests in a row to France – their last defeat coming in November in Paris – and Barrett said winning a certain trophy back was high on the agenda in the midst of plenty of commentary about an inexperienced French team.
France have included five players on debut in the starting XV, with three more on the reserves bench.
'We're certainly not reading anything into this being a 'weakened' French side… you have to give them the utmost respect and we've certainly given them that. The Dave Gallaher Trophy is on the line. We haven't had much success in recent years against the French so we're looking to turn that around.'
