In recent times, Beauden Barrett’s status as New Zealand’s leading fly-half has come under threat from Richie Mo’unga.
But the 30-year-old showed his enduring class at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, marking his 100th cap for the All Blacks with a man-of-the-match performance in a 54-16 win against Wales.
Barrett scored the first and last of the All Blacks’ seven tries on a day when his brother, Jordie also kicked 19 points.
Unforgettable experience last night 💯 pic.twitter.com/sd4vWtLooe
— Beauden Barrett (@beaudenbarrett) October 31, 2021
And the good news for the All Blacks is that Barrett still feels he has got “plenty left in the tank.”
"I was a very raw young boy from Taranaki who was all-out attack and who had little opportunities off the bench – a few cameos here and there," Barrett said after the game.
"But now being a more senior player and having a lot more responsibilities in my life, there is a bigger picture. I'm more conscious of that and do things for different reasons now and my purpose is different.
"It's all part of growing up I think, but I'm still very driven and determined and I've got plenty left in the tank."
As all quality players do, Barrett delivered on the big occasion. But the centurion revealed that the build-up to the game in Cardiff hadn’t been perfect.
“It was hard, I didn’t train that well this week, there was a lot on my mind,” he admitted. “I just wanted to go out there and enjoy it, enjoy the moment because this is such a cool place to win your 100th cap.”
These are the numbers behind his test success.
2 – In 2017, Barrett became only the second player, after Richie McCaw, to win the World Rugby Player of the Year award in consecutive years.
3 – Beauden, Jordie and Scott Barrett became the first trio of brothers to appear for the All Blacks in a Rugby World Cup match when they took to the field together for the Pool B encounter with Canada in Oita in October 2019. New Zealand won 63-0.
8 – Tries against Wales. Barrett shares the New Zealand record with John Kirwan.
11 – Barrett is the 11th All Blacks test centurion, following in the footsteps of Richie McCaw, fellow former World Rugby U20 Championship graduates, Sam Whitelock and Aaron Smith, as well as Keven Mealamu, Kieran Read, Tony Woodcock, Dan Carter, Owen Franks and Ma’a Nonu.
12 – The majority of Barrett’s caps have been won at 10, in the principal playmaker position. More recently, he has been deployed at full-back, starting 12 of his last 15 caps in the position he performed with distinction during New Zealand’s triumphant World Rugby U20 Championship 2011-winning campaign.
17 – Record number of consecutive games scored in, a feat he has achieved twice.
26 – The number of tests before Barrett tasted defeat in an All Blacks jersey, from his debut against Ireland in June 2012 to the 27-25 loss at the hands of South Africa at Ellis Park in October 2014.
28 – The percentage of his 703 test points Barrett that have come from tries.
30 – The most points he has scored in a single test – against Australia at Eden Park in August 2018. Barrett ran in four tries that day and added five conversions.
39 – Barrett’s brace against Wales took him to 39 test tries, putting him joint-sixth in the all-time list of All Blacks try-scorers. His first try in Cardiff took him past the late, great Jonah Lomu.
Read more: Dan Carter: All Black legend’s record-breaking career in numbers >>