Beauden Barrett Exclusive: Driven by World Cup Dream and Love for NZ Rugby

There are rugby tours, and then there are rugby tours.

And for the All Blacks, a trip to South Africa in 2026 sits in a category all of its own. It is not just another international window. It is not just another Test series. It is a grind, a war of attrition, a place where reputations are either hardened or exposed.

Ask any All Black who has been there. You do not just play the Springboks. You survive the entire country.

This one feels different too. Because this All Blacks group is not the all-conquering machine of 2015, not even the redemption kings of 2023. It is a side searching, evolving, trying to stay ahead in a world that has caught up.

And in that context, South Africa is the hardest exam paper you can sit.

Beauden Barrett knows it.

“[It’s] such a unique tour experience… probably the hardest place to turn up and, and play rugby in,” he told Martin Devlin in an exclusive interview on the DSPN.

That is not lip service. That is lived experience.

Seven weeks on tour. Midweek games that hit like Tests. Crowds that do not give an inch. Altitude that sucks the oxygen out of your lungs and your decision making.

And then the Springboks. Back-to-back world champions. Deep, brutal, relentless.

If you are looking for a measuring stick ahead of a Rugby World Cup, this is it.

The Hurt of Losing in Black

But here is the thing about the All Blacks. For all the talk about evolution, tactics, depth charts and coaching shifts, the heartbeat of the team has never changed.

Losing still hurts. Deeply.

Barrett describes it in his own words.

“There’s a deep feeling of hurt and almost a blank silence and a look that you give each other for what we went through and how we felt.

“That feeling in the sheds afterwards, as a player you can certainly distinctively remember the sombre changing room after a handful of those defeats that hurt the most.”

In New Zealand, losing in black is not just a result. It is a conversation. A debate. A national post-mortem. Barrett has lived both sides of that coin.

He has been part of one of the greatest eras the game has ever seen, when the All Blacks were virtually untouchable between 2011 and 2016. A team that barely lost. A team that made winning look routine.

And now, he is part of a generation that has had to deal with something far less comfortable. Vulnerability.

Since the drawn British and Irish Lions series in 2017, losses have been more frequent for the All Blacks, and 2022 delivered arguably the lowest ebb for the national side since the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final loss - five test losses in six, and six in eight as Ireland, France, South Africa and Argentina all enjoyed successes.

More losses. Closer contests. A world where eight teams, not four, can realistically win a World Cup. Something Barrett himself admits about the current landscape.

The new, more competitive landscape certainly changes how you prepare. It changes how you think. And most importantly, it changes what drives you.

For Barrett, that drive is still burning.

Unfinished Business

At 35, heading toward 36 by the time the 2027 World Cup rolls around, this is supposed to be the stage where players start winding down.

Taking the overseas cheque. Easing out. Letting the next generation take over.

Not Barrett. He is still in New Zealand, currently balancing father/family and Super rugby duties with the international season just around the corner. Still pushing. Still chasing.

“I dream of holding that World Cup with my brothers, and how close we got in France. It just keeps me going,” Barrett says.

“I can only imagine the joy it’ll bring. 

“It would be just a great way to finish in New Zealand. I enjoy being part of the journey and that process of the All Black team and the Blues team, and just being in New Zealand rugby. I know that I can add a lot of value to young people around me, to any team that I’m involved in. I get a real buzz out of that as well.”

That tells you everything.

This is not about legacy anymore. That is already secured. A World Cup, Super Rugby titles, World Rugby Player of the Year awards, and one of the greatest ever in his position. Barrett already has a place among the greats.

This is about something more personal. Family, redemption, and closure.

Barrett’s Form Right Now

So where is Barrett at right now? The honest answer is somewhere between evolution and adaptation.

“I feel like I'm doing what's required for the team. I'm probably not having as many impactful moments with ball in hand. But in terms of steering the ship, I'm, I'm quite happy with how things are going.

But goal kicking? That’s a slightly different kettle of fish.

“There’s been a little bit of inconsistency there. I felt pretty good after making some minor changes in the last game. There’s always work to do in other areas including goal kicking. It’s something I always review, look into, refine, but ultimately try and simplify things.”

His kicking game from hand remains a strength. His ability to guide a team around the park is still elite.

There is no complacency there. No sense of “I’ve done enough.”

Instead, there is detail. Process. Constant adjustment.

But does Barrett still want the responsibility? The pressure? The big moments?

“Yeah, it's a good mindset to be in, is wanting it or wanting that responsibility. It’s no different to other responsibilities in the team. I think the more you put on yourself, the more edge it brings, the more it gets you slightly uncomfortable, and it’s a good state to be in.”

South Africa Will Provide the Answer

Which brings us back to South Africa. That tour is not just another chapter. It might define this All Black group.

It will test their depth. Their resilience. Their ability to handle pressure in the harshest conditions the game can offer.

It will expose any weaknesses. But it will also reveal any growth.

For Barrett, it is another opportunity.

Another chance to prove he still belongs at this level. Another step toward that final goal in 2027.

“What a challenge, even playing the midweek games, they're gonna be tough games playing the provinces. We know how proud, how strong the South African rugby teams are to play.

“We're certainly aware of the challenge ahead. But there's so much excitement around the opportunity, the challenge.”