Stats show Barrett is better than Carter
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: New Zealand fans are no doubt still reflecting on Beauden Barrett’s outstanding Bledisloe Cup performance after a big win against Australia this past Saturday.
Two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Barrett scored four tries as the All Blacks retained the trophy and the bragging rights in a 40-12 drubbing of the Wallabies at fortress Eden Park.
Match-winning performances are the norm for the 27-year-old speedster, but this Rugby Championship display was something extra special.
And so, using Opta data, we have picked out the most eye-catching statistics from Barrett’s four-try showing.
1 – Barrett is the only player to have recorded four tries in a Test match from flyhalf.
2 – The New Zealand star became just the second player to score four tries against Australia, following South Africa’s Jongi Nokwe in 2008.
5 – The number of different All Blacks who have crossed for four tries in a Test match against tier-one opposition. Barrett became the 12th to do so against any opponent – and the first since 2011.
9 – Only Richie McCaw and Ma’a Nonu (both 11) have scored more tries vs Australia than @AllBlacks fly-half Beauden Barrett (9). Clique. #NZLvAUS
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) August 25, 2018
12 – Barrett’s four tries took him to 30 in 66 matches for New Zealand, placing him 12th on the all-time top try scorers list.
30 – The Hurricanes star’s points tally on Saturday was the second highest in Rugby Championship history, behind Morne Steyn’s 31 for South Africa against the All Blacks in 2009.
50 – Barrett took half as many Tests as Dan Carter to reach a joint-record 25 tries from flyhalf. Carter needed 100 matches.
By Ben Spratt, RugbyPass
