Former All Blacks Stephen Donald and Jeff Wilson would not start Jordie Barrett in the opening mid-year game against France as he must prove himself again.<\/b><\/p>\n
Barrett made the switch to Leinster following the conclusion of the November internationals, and while the All Blacks star has made a huge impact at the Irish club in multiple positions, World Cup-winning fly-half Donald does not feel that it justifies him retaining his starting role in Scott Robertson\u2019s team.<\/p>\n
URC is a \u2018very, very low level compared to Super Rugby\u2019<\/p>\n
Donald<\/a> believes that the standard of rugby in the United Rugby Championship (URC) is a lot lower than that of Super Rugby and that those playing in New Zealand should get preference in July.<\/p>\n \u201cThe URC<\/a> competition is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby<\/a>, the Champions Cup stuff certainly would be [of the same level],\u201d he remarked on The Breakdown.<\/p>\n \u201cWould I pick him in the squad? Yes, of course, he\u2019s the vice-captain remember. Would I start him? Not necessarily, and nothing to do with his form, but more of a reward for the boys who have been in Super Rugby and played well all year.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Jordie<\/a> yes, select him straight away, would I start him straight away in Test one against France? Possibly not.\u201d<\/p>\n All Blacks great worries Super Rugby is now a \u2018pathway\u2019 not a \u2018destination\u2019 for top players<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Former Crusaders and Hurricanes lock Joe Wheeler agreed with Donald as he too questioned the level of rugby in the URC, arguing that it would not \u2018harden him up\u2019 enough for the demands of international rugby.<\/p>\n Additionally, he thinks that throwing Barrett into the starting XV against what is likely to be a weakened France outfit adds unnecessary pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a bit the same as you, I don\u2019t think you need to lump that sort of pressure on him in terms of starting, but he\u2019d been in the 23 for sure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you talk about guys like Jordie Barrett, he\u2019s in the ilk of Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett, where class is permanent \u2013 these guys understand Test match rugby. They know what it takes mentally and physically to get themselves in a position to perform at the highest stage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe URC might not be as good as Super Rugby, it\u2019s not going to harden him for Test rugby but this guy is world class there\u2019s no question about it he is in your squad, you\u2019re picking him every day of the week, and I don\u2019t think you start him.<\/p>\n \u201cI like your point, reward form back home before you do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ex-All Blacks star: \u2018Difference between Super Rugby and Tests is huge\u2026South Africans gave us a taste\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Ex-All Black claims just one Springboks great compares to \u2018complete package\u2019 Jordie Barrett and it\u2019s not Damian de Allende<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Will Jordie Barrett be \u2018hardened\u2019 for Test rugby?<\/p>\n Concerns have been raised about the amount of rugby Barrett has played since joining Leinster, with the All Black effectively playing non-stop over the past 16 months with no off-season.<\/p>\n However, the 28-year-old eased those concerns, stating that Leinster have managed his involvements well, providing him with plenty of off-time.<\/p>\n Former All Blacks winger Wilson joked that Barrett may be \u2018underdone\u2019 for the international season after spending time on the golf course but also believes that the players in New Zealand will be better prepared for international rugby than the Leinster-based star.<\/p>\n