He is fast becoming indispensable for the All Blacks and the praise for Scott Barrett just keeps coming.
Former captain Kieran Read is the latest to talk up the importance of Barrett's career-best form, insisting he must be the first lock on the team sheet.
Read feels the honours may get even higher going forward. With 127 tests to his name, he has seen his fair share of All Blacks come and go, so he knows better than most when one's star is on the rise - something he certainly applies to Barrett.
"He's your starting lock," Read said. "He's a dominant figure, he's a guy where I look around our forward pack and he can put a bit of fear in some of the opposition's eyes."
Just ask Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott.
Melbourne's Bledisloe opener provided yet another reminder of what a world class lock Barrett has developed into and with two other superstar Barretts in the All Blacks, Read feels Scott is now stealing the limelight.
"It's just him being able to showcase what he's got - he's the best Barrett, I reckon," he said.
In Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick, the All Blacks have been well served at lock over the past decade and Read feels Barrett is showing signs of doing the same.
"If he keeps this trajectory up, he'll be in that same conversation as Brodie and Sam as our great locks," he said.
Read feels Barrett's growth as a player has coincided with his growth as a leader. After captaining the Crusaders for the past few years, it's a part of the game Barrett is clearly more comfortable with and the All Blacks are reaping the benefits as a result.
"Once you get that right, and you go out there and 'hey I can do this', that's sometimes all it takes, having a good couple of performances and 'oh yeah, I know what I'm capable of'," Read said.
Barrett's workrate and attitude resonate with Kiwis.
"Yeah, absolutely," Read said, when asked if Barrett could be a future All Blacks captain. "Why not, he's shown that at the Crusaders."
That's high praise for a player who's likely to be a massive part of the All Blacks going forward.
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