Beauden Barrett hopeful to play this weekend in 100th match between All Blacks and Springboks

All Blacks star Beauden Barrett is relishing the chance to face world champion opponents for the first time in his career.

After winning the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups, New Zealand has held that title for most of the last decade, losing it to South Africa in 2019.

The last world champions they faced were the Springboks who beat them 18-5 at Port Elizabeth in 2011.

Only Sam Whitelock of the current All Blacks squad has faced a world champion side, with all the Rugby Championship squad in Australia debuting after 2011. Whitelock has missed this leg of their campaign after staying home for the birth of his third child.

Barrett says he is hopeful that he will play this weekend in the 100th match between the two teams.

The All Blacks will meet the Springboks at 7.05pm Saturday and the Wallabies face Argentina at 10.05pm Saturday.

[Source: Newshub.co.nz]