Former All Blacks back injured Scott Barrett to reclaim starting spot ahead of Bledisloe Cup

Scott Barrett is racing to be fit for the All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies at Eden Park on 10 October, with former internationals backing the 89-Test lock to reclaim his starting place despite not having played a single minute in 2026. Barrett took a non-playing sabbatical for most of the Super Rugby Pacific season before a back injury ruled him out of the Crusaders’ playoff campaign, and he has since been training with Taranaki as a return to match action draws closer.

Whether Barrett features for Taranaki against Hawke’s Bay on Sunday remains uncertain, but head coach Dave Rennie expects him to be available for the series opener. Former All Blacks Mils Muliaina and Jeff Wilson, speaking on The Breakdown, were broadly in agreement that Barrett’s experience and physicality make him an automatic pick once fit.

“I think he just adds to that side,” Muliaina said. “His ability also to play six and four — he’ll be determined to come back. Sometimes you need to put aside his ability as a captain and remember his ability as a player himself. He brings that physicality. For me, he’s definitely back in the squad. Does he go back into starting straight away? I’m not sure.”

Ex-Springboks halfback Kevin Putt, making his first appearance on the programme, raised questions about the lock stocks if Barrett is reintegrated. “I don’t think you can drop someone out yet. I think Fabian Holland’s definite to keep in there — he’s one of the boys for the future who’s doing exceptionally well,” Putt said. “I always get worried about the injury list. We seem to be losing locks over the most recent times. Barrett’s an 80-minute player. That’s the reason we need him back.”

Wilson echoed the sentiment but suggested Barrett may benefit from a couple of provincial outings before stepping back into Test rugby. “I’d like to get him a couple of games for Taranaki, get him through that,” Wilson said. “I trust that they brought him straight back, and I have no doubts he’d do a job.” Wilson also noted that Tupou Vaa’i’s emergence at blindside flanker could influence exactly where Barrett slots into the starting XV.

With the All Blacks already managing a number of lock injuries heading into the Bledisloe series, the consensus among the panel is that Barrett’s return — whenever it comes — will be welcomed rather than disruptive, provided his body holds up over the next fortnight.