14 Nov 2018

All Blacks playmaker says the game changes in Europe

9:45 am on 14 November 2018

Beauden Barrett concedes his approach to rugby transforms when he crosses the equator to tackle the heavyweights of the northern hemisphere.

Beauden Barrett

Beauden Barrett Photo: PHOTOSPORT

All Blacks five-eighth Barrett helped engineer the comeback from 15-0 down against England at Twickenham, withstanding wet conditions and a smothering rush defence from the hosts.

The effervescent playmaker landed a dropped goal and all his shots at goal during the tense 16-15 arm-wrestle win.

It's the sort of contest that could be mirrored in Saturday's clash with world No.2 Ireland in Dublin.

It will require another change of mindset at the tail end of an All Blacks season in which their 11 Tests before arriving at Twickenham averaged nine tries per match.

"Your tactics as a team change, weather conditions have an influence up here especially," Barrett said.

"We had to get excited about chasing kicks instead of running with ball in hand.

"Often the best offence in those conditions is our defence. It's almost like 'here you guys have a go if you want to play with the ball in hand'."

However, Barrett agreed Ireland could offer more variety on attack than Eddie Jones' kick-based approach with England.

Beauden Barrett

Beauden Barrett Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Depending on conditions, he's predicting Irish coach Joe Schmidt will have something unexpected up his sleeve.

That was the case when New Zealand were stunned 40-29 in Chicago two years ago.

The All Blacks bounced back to win the re-match in Dublin two weeks later but only after a torrid 80 minutes in which the tourists were accused of an overly physical approach.

"They're a smart team, they'll throw a few things at us we've never seen before," Barrett said.

"When you do lose in an All Black jersey it's never nice. We can draw from those experiences, just a small reminder of how we felt in that changing room, to always respect Ireland."

Barrett will mark Johnny Sexton in a clash of two pivots nominated for World Rugby's player of the year award.

While Barrett is chasing a third straight gong, he faces a stern challenge from Sexton, who enjoyed domestic success with Leinster and steered Ireland to the Six Nations crown.

Sexton will be without two key team-mates this weekend, with world class halfback Conor Murray and inside centre Robbie Henshaw both ruled out with injury.

-AAP