New Zealand captain Scott Barrett has made a startling admission ahead of this weekend's clash with England, revealing he still carries deep emotional scars from their devastating 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat.
The Yokohama Nightmare
The 31-year-old flanker endured what he describes as a difficult evening in Yokohama six years ago, when England comprehensively outplayed the All Blacks in a match that still haunts the New Zealand camp. Barrett was surprisingly selected at blindside flanker for the crucial semi-final but found himself hooked at half-time as England dominated proceedings.
"We've certainly got some scars from the English going back to the 2019 World Cup," Barrett confessed in an emotional press conference. "Certainly we don't want to go there again."
Using Pain as Fuel
Now leading his country as captain, Barrett insists the painful memories will serve as motivation rather than burden when the teams meet at Twickenham. New Zealand haven't lost to England at Twickenham since 2012, and Barrett's side secured narrow victories in all three encounters during 2024.
"Every All Black wants to win a World Cup - that's the dream - so to have the rug pulled from underneath you by England, it certainly leaves a scar," Barrett explained. "For us it's about taking the strengths we've built upon this season, playing with confidence and putting in the performance tomorrow night we're proud of."
Grand Slam Ambitions Remain Alive
The All Blacks remain in contention for a coveted grand slam tour of the home nations, having already overcome Ireland in Chicago and Scotland at Murrayfield. Following the England fixture, New Zealand face Wales in Cardiff to complete their northern hemisphere campaign.
This year's Rugby Championship provided mixed results for the All Blacks, suffering defeat against Argentina and a record loss to South Africa. However, Barrett remains confident his team can continue their current winning streak and silence the expectedly partisan Twickenham crowd.
"There are a lot of Kiwis over here but there a damn sight more English who would be singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot at the end of the game if we're down," Barrett noted. "We can use that as fuel to make the 80 minutes that goes before that something we want to be proud of and hang your hat on."
The captain emphasised his team's strategy for handling the intense atmosphere: "We've talked about noise. Noise is ultimately a distraction that you can be frustrated by but we'll be using that as fuel in those moments leading up to that and focusing on what's required there and then."
Barrett also acknowledged the importance of travelling New Zealand supporters, saying: "There are Kiwis over here, expats, and guys who have travelled to follow the tour. Their support goes a long way. If we're lucky enough to be standing there at the end with a victory, to see them smile, it would mean the world. We can't wait for tomorrow."
