Former All Blacks hooker James Parsons feels that while Jordie Barrett’s move to Leinster has been beneficial for his own game, he has also helped improve a player like Sam Prendergast.

Barrett has been in fine form for Leinster of late and was at the forefront of their onslaught with a superb all-round performance in Friday’s 52-0 victory over Glasgow Warriors in the Investec Champions Cup.

Apart from shining on attack, the 28-year-old also delivered an outstanding defensive showing which saw him walking off with the official man-of-the-match award after the game.

Playing a leading role for Leinster

Barrett joined Leinster in December on a six-month sabbatical and apart from playing a leading role in his new team reaching the Champions Cup semi-finals, he has also shone for them in the United Rugby Championship where they are sitting pretty atop the standings.

Appearing on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod alongside Parsons was former Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall, who is currently plying his trade with Japan Rugby League One outfit Kubota Spears.

Hall sang Barrett’s praises after his impressive performance for Leinster against Glasgow, saying he feels the utility back’s stint with the Irish province could benefit the All Blacks at Test level.

“We’ve touched on a lot around him being able to have the triple threat run, pass, kick. Jip (Parsons) touched on the turnovers defensively that he’s bringing to his game as well,” he said.

“But it seems like Leinster are able to bring the best out of a Jordie Barrett, which probably I guess is a good challenge for the All Blacks is how can we get Jordie to play the way he is in Leinster?

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“And I know it’s an international level, but it’s very similar to how Ireland do play.

“In Leinster there’s a lot of players that play in their Ireland style. So can the All Blacks see with what they’re seeing with Jordie Barrett?

“Can they try and implement a game plan which can be based around Jordie’s skill set that he’s been able to do really, really well for Leinster and the reason why they’re playing so well in the Champions Cup at the moment?”

Helping with Sam Prendergast’s development

Parsons agreed but said with Barrett at inside centre for Leinster, he has also played a big role in helping to improve the skill set of Ireland fly-half Prendergast who is the province’s first choice number 10.

Prendergast has flourished since Barrett arrived at Leinster and started in four of Ireland’s five Six Nations Tests earlier this year. He is also hoping to be part of the British & Irish Lions squad for their tour to Australia later this year.

“We can see it as a win definitely for Jordie and potentially the All Blacks for what intel he can bring,” he said.

“But don’t underestimate what Jordie’s doing for Prendergast at 10.

“And I mentioned Dave Havili and what he’s done with Taha Kemara (at the Crusaders), but I do think having Jamison Gibson-Park inside Prendergast, obviously the Irish connection, but a different style of 12 outside him and ways of, I suppose, growing his development and the way he sees the game and how he can better use the players outside him and what he can now demand once he gets that international level in the Irish jersey.”

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/ex-all-black-dont-underestimate-jordie-barretts-influence-on-british-and-irish-lions-hopeful