Leinster’s Jordie Barrett scored on debut this past weekend against Bristol Bears. Photo: EPA
All Black star Jordie Barrett admitted that he is looking forward to once again facing South African franchises in the coming months when he runs out for Irish giants Leinster in the United Rugby Championship.
Barrett recently joined Leinster on a short-term contract until the end of the 2024/25 season, and made his debut for the Dublin-based outfit this past weekend against Bristol Bears in the Champions Cup.
In what has been described as a “blockbuster” performance, the 27-year-old made an immediate impact, scoring his first try for his new team 15 minutes into his introduction, off the bench, in the 35-12 win.
'It' been a great start, I've enjoyed it' - Jordie Barrett says he's settling into life at Leinster nicely. #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/TlS9NjvB8V
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 10, 2024
For his efforts, he was also included into Planet Rugby’s Champions Cup Team of the Week.
Previously, Barrett had enjoyed the fierce competition afforded by the SA teams – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers in Super Rugby pre-Covid – before they were dropped from that competition by their Australasian counterparts.
SA Rugby subsequently joined the Pro 16 in an increased capacity to form the URC.
Leinster are hot favourites to win both the URC and the elite European championship, and as such are still scheduled to face a handful of SA teams in the former, but could also do so in the latter, if the draw and results permit.
On Tuesday, during a Champions Cup media briefing, Barrett revealed it would be “nice” to play those "formidable outfits” again.
“I’m fully aware of the prowess, power and game that South African teams have,” the All Blacks utility back said.
“They were obviously in the Super Rugby competition, which I was a part of, for a number of years.
“For three or four years, I had the luxury of heading to South Africa and doing a tour for two or three weeks.
“They are such formidable outfits and they are a great acquisition to the URC. I was gutted, obviously, when they left Super Rugby for various reasons. I certainly missed that aspect.
“I was gutted,” he reiterated, when I was playing with the Hurricanes and they left. It will be nice to play those games again.”
"I had the luxury of heading up to South Africa and doing tours for 2 or 3 weeks. They are such formidable outfits... I was so gutted when they left Super Rugby"
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) December 10, 2024
Pleasure to speak with @leinsterrugby recruit, Jordie Barrett, ahead of this weekend's @ChampionsCup Clermont clash🗣️ pic.twitter.com/UFqabQQnR7
If selected, Barrett could do so as early as January 25 when they host the Stormers at Aviva Stadium in the URC.
He could also be in the Leinster touring squad, which is set to play the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld and the Sharks at Kings Park at the end of March.
The big blue machine has already faced the Lions in the regular season, beating the Joburgers 24-6 at the end of October.
It is also possible that Leinster face SA teams in the URC playoffs in late May, while it is not impossible that they could also encounter a team or two from here during the knockout rounds of the Champions Cup.