WATCH: Beauden Barrett on All Black captaincy for the first time
Friday 3 November 2017 16:59, UK
"When I got the tap on the shoulder and Steve [Hansen] said that I was leading this week , I didn't really understand what that meant."
Beauden Barrett may have been, for many, the premier All Black in New Zealand over the last few years, but the current world player of the year confesses Saturday's clash with the Barbarians will bring up a first.
For all his quality, vision and leadership on the pitch, Barrett has never captained a side throughout his whole rugby career, at any level or age grade.
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When New Zealand come up against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action, that's exactly what he will be doing, though.
"I thought: 'yeah I lead pretty much most weeks', but when he said that was captaincy, I was quite nervous but excited at the same time", Barrett said.
"It's a great honour for me. Becoming an All Black was clearly a dream for me as a youngster but becoming captain for a game...that's the first team I've ever captained. Not even First XV's or club rugby, it's the first time."
All Black skipper Kieran Read, hooker Dane Coles, prop Wyatt Crockett, second row Sam Whitelock and centre Sonny Bill Williams won't be involved in the Barbarians clash as they don't arrive into London until Friday.
As such, there's a little bit of pressure on Barrett's shoulders, particularly with so many Kiwi's on the opposition team.
In fact, of the 26 men in the Baa-Baas squad this November, 13 are New Zealanders and that includes Barrett's opposite number in Richie Mo'unga, who has been making some waves of late.
The Crusaders clinched the Super Rugby title in July while Canterbury sealed the Mitre 10 Premiership crown last week.
Both campaigns were steered by Mo'unga in the No 10 jersey, who scored the most points by an individual in the history of NPC finals in the Mitre 20 success. Barrett could have a challenger on the way and that could begin on Saturday.
Indeed many are viewing this Baa-Baas clash as a sort of All Blacks trial game, which is sure to make for compelling viewing.
As well as his upcoming captaincy, Barrett also talks to us about facing the British and Irish Lions during the summer, his match-clinching try against Australia in Dunedin in August and that pass against the Springboks in the 57-0.
Click play on the video above to watch our exclusive chat with Beauden Barrett as he talks about all of the above!
