Scott Barrett reveals the backyard cricket battles that shaped Jordie
According to brother Scott, it started in the backyard, with a cricket ball, a long run-up and two older brothers who wouldn't stop chipping at him. Scott tells the story in the latest episode of Inside the Black Jersey, as he returns to the All Blacks after almost a year out.
Barrett played his first Test since November 2025 in the 50-19 Bledisloe Cup win over the Wallabies at Eden Park. Beauden started at Fullback after Richie Mo'unga was ruled out during the week.
"Richie going down during the week threw a bit of a spanner, and it was an opportunity for Beauden," Barrett said.
"Jordie's been playing some of the best rugby I've certainly seen, if not career-best form, so it was great to be back out there and share the field with them."
When former All Blacks Halfback Brad Weber compared Jordie's hunger for contact to Bobby Boucher from the Adam Sandler movie The Waterboy and asked which brother was to blame, the answer had nothing to do with rugby.
"Funnily enough, it wasn't actually anything rugby related. It was more the intensity of a backyard cricket game," Barrett said.
WATCH: Scott Barrett opens up on Inside the Black Jersey
The older brothers would chip away at Jordie until he grabbed the ball and charged in off a long run. Scott likened him to former Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, famous for his slingshot, round-arm action and searing pace. The more wound up Jordie got, the faster he bowled.
Ithinkthat'sprobablyaproductofthecompetitorthatheistoday,puttingupwithacoupleofotherbrotherswhowerejustchippingathim.Scott Barrett
Barrett also explained why three brothers ended up with such different builds. "I think I probably won the race to the table," he joked.
Beauden was a cross-country runner at primary school, and his brothers played cricket in summer. Scott spent his summers fishing and in the gym with older brother Kane.
The lighter moments sit alongside a frank account of a frustrating year. Early in the season Barrett felt a tight hip, then found his calf would not fire when he ran. The cause was a bulging disc pressing on a nerve.
"Sitting down longer than five minutes would be uncomfortable," he said.
He gave it four weeks to settle, but it did not improve. A microdiscectomy brought near-instant relief, followed by four months rebuilding his core strength and calf.
The setback cost him the end of the Super Rugby season and the tour of South Africa. "It was a huge occasion, but nonetheless, I'm back in the environment," he said.
Now the focus is Wallabies v All Blacks, 17 October 2026 at Accor Stadium, Sydney. Barrett expects the Wallabies to play with more ball in hand after kicking more than the All Blacks anticipated at Eden Park.
"For us, really, it's the challenge of backing up the performance," he said. "Let's give them the full respect this week."
