Jordie Barrett happy to be outside his comfort zone at Leinster

Barrett will be expected to add something extra to a Leinster side that has fallen inches short of silverware the last three years.

In seven appearances for Leinster so far, Jordie Barrett has scored three tries and started a both full-back and at inside centre. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Only four months have passed since Jordie Barrett made his Leinster debut, coming off the bench at half-time against Bristol Bears in Ashton Gate and slipping seamlessly into the province’s back line in a 35-12 win.

It took the All Black just 15 minutes to score his first try. He has been efficiently excellent in his seven appearances since, scoring three more tries in a spell where he has started at full-back and inside-centre and, against Harlequins last week, was sprung from the bench.

Quins head coach Danny Wilson couldn’t help but wonder at the luxury of bringing this world-class Kiwi in from the stands with Leinster already halfway, exactly, to the 62 points that they would end up with in their Champions Cup round of 16 tie.

He wasn’t the only one.

Brian O’Driscoll surely spoke for plenty of people this week when he suggested that Leo Cullen would have to find a starting slot for the 6’ 4”, 16-stone World Cup winner as push comes to shove at the pointy end of the season.

The man himself is happy to toe the party line.

“It’s certainly not difficult [being on the bench]. If I get any opportunity to play, whether it’s starting or on the bench or adding value somewhere else… The game now demands 23 players and the wider squad to prepare them for the weekend.

“If your job is to come on and change a game, to add some value or to put a game away… That’s your job for that week. If your job is to start, obviously you want to start and play well and put the team in a good position so they can come on and play well.” 

He knows that sounds cliched but there were conversations before he came over with Cullen about his role and how it could change week to week, and there is a wider context to all this that likely needs consideration.

Cullen refused to be drawn on the nature of RG Snyman’s contract when asked if there were any restrictions on the use of the Springbok - who has started just one of their Champions Cup games so far - back in December.

The word had it that the IRFU okayed his contract on the basis that Snyman wouldn’t be picked ahead of Ireland internationals and, as it was, James Ryan was injured last week when the former Munster man got that first start in the Champions Cup.

Snyman is already nailed down to a second season in Dublin. Barrett will be gone this summer come what may, on his way back home for a Rugby Championship campaign with New Zealand and back to the life he knows so well and for so long.

The whole stint will come and go in the blink of an eye, but the 28-year old is packing plenty in. Playing in Croke Park last week was a bucket-list item when he arrived and there have been other iconic Irish sporting venues added to that already.

A keen golfer, Barrett plays off a handicap of two. There have been rounds played in Portmarnock and in Druid’s Glen and, while he’s looking forward to watching the Masters this week, he’s keen to remind everyone that he is here on business first and foremost.

The whole experience has lived up to his expectations. There aren’t many differences in how elite teams prepare and train on different sides of the world anymore and yet there is an undoubted sense of freshness to it that has invigorated him.

“It is a great change of scene and it was important. I probably got myself out of a comfort zone with people and coaches and a country I am familiar with and [got to] test myself somewhere else when you are uncomfortable. It’s been great, I’ve loved every minute of it.” 

There isn’t any doubt but that his ability to slot in anywhere and everywhere is an enormous plus as Leinster chase trophies on two fronts. This is a guy who has played out-half, on both wings, in both centre spots and at the back. And played well in all of them.

Wherever he plays this next couple of months, and whatever the jersey. Barrett will be expected to add something extra to a side that has fallen inches short of silverware the last three years. Snyman the same.

“You can do two things with it, you can let that become a burden and heavy but I have learned to try and embrace it and understand that it’s a privileged position I am in and the other boys and the opportunity that we have as well.

“That excites me and gets you out of bed every day. Nothing is certain and you don’t know what’s going to come at the end of the line, but the challenge is awesome.”