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Blues Coach McDonald Lauds Barrett Display After ‘Harsh’ Criticism

Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
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Blues Coach McDonald Lauds Barrett Display After ‘Harsh’ Criticism

Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo
Rugby Union - International - Scotland v New Zealand - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 13, 2022 New Zealand's Beauden Barrett during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo

Auckland Blues coach Leon McDonald praised Beauden Barrett after the All Blacks playmaker overcame a week in which his form was questioned to lead his side to a 54-17 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.

Barrett came under intense scrutiny after a disappointing performance in last week's loss to the Waikato Chiefs with McDonald calling the criticism "pretty harsh" after the Blues returned to winning ways.

"I thought his game was fantastic," said McDonald, Reuters reported.

"The sign of the champion that he is, he didn't flinch the whole week. I thought he was fantastic in the way he led our team, drove the strategy really well and he just got on with his business.

"I thought today he kicked really well. It wasn't easy conditions out there, it was quite greasy yet he still had the confidence to play which was really good to see as well."

Barrett played a part in several of his team's nine tries as the Blues put on a strong showing to claim a bonus point win, although the 31-year-old continued to struggle with his kicking from the tee with six misses from 10 attempts.

That mattered little as the Blues were utterly dominant in the second half and go into a bye week with McDonald upbeat as his team sit in fifth after seven rounds.

"We haven't been playing as well as we would like, so we had to turn the dial up in training and put some hard yards in just to make sure we finish this block on the right note and get the result that we needed," he said.

"I think the guys have earned a good rest and hopefully we can come back and take some of this momentum into the second half of the season because it's all to play for."

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Djokovic Still Feels Trauma When He Travels to Australia Because of His Deportation in 2022

Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the gardens of Government House the morning after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the gardens of Government House the morning after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)
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Djokovic Still Feels Trauma When He Travels to Australia Because of His Deportation in 2022

Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the gardens of Government House the morning after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in the gardens of Government House the morning after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)

Novak Djokovic said he still feels "a bit of trauma" when he travels to Australia, stemming from his deportation in 2022 because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

"The last couple of times that I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration, I had a bit of trauma from three years ago," Djokovic said in an interview with Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper published Monday, ahead of the Australian Open. "And some traces still stay there when I’m passing passport control, just checking out if someone from immigration zone is approaching."

Djokovic, who has won 10 of his 24 Grand Slam championships at Melbourne Park, continued: "The person checking my passport — are they going to take me, detain me again or let me go? I must admit I have that feeling."

Back in 2022, Djokovic sought, and initially obtained, an exemption that would allow him into the Australian Open — and the country — even though there were strict rules requiring shots to protect against the coronavirus. But after his flight landed, he was detained at the airport, his visa was canceled and he was sent to an immigration hotel.

A judge later reinstated the visa and ordered Djokovic’s release, ruling he wasn’t given enough time to speak to his lawyers. Australia’s immigration minister then took away the visa again, based on "public interest."

Djokovic’s appeal of that ruling was denied by a three-judge panel, and he was deported. He faced a possible three-year ban from the country as someone whose visa was revoked, but Australia had a change of government, its pandemic border rules changed and a new immigration minister granted Djokovic a visa in 2023 — when he went on to claim the trophy.

"I don’t hold any resentment, to be honest," Djokovic told the Herald Sun about the saga. "I don’t hold a grudge."

The Australian Open begins Sunday (Saturday EST), and Djokovic will be pursuing his 11th trophy in Melbourne to add to his men's record and an unprecedented 25th major singles title overall.

A year ago, Djokovic lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

"I just hope to, before I retire, get at least one more title there," said the 37-year-old Djokovic, whose only triumph at a tournament in 2024 was his singles gold medal for Serbia at the Paris Olympics in August.

Djokovic opened 2025 at the Brisbane International last week, losing in the quarterfinals to Reilly Opelka.

At the Australian Open, Djokovic will be playing in his first event alongside new coach Andy Murray, his former on-court rival and a three-time major champion who retired as a player after the Summer Games. Murray and Djokovic have said they will partner up through the year's initial Grand Slam tournament.