All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett to make rare appearance for Taranaki

All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett will play his first game for Taranaki since 2020 on Sunday when the Amber and Blacks take on Wellington in New Plymouth.Barrett, 35, is one of 14 players released by the All Blacks for the NPC this weekend. Other All Blacks who toured South Africa for the recent test series available for Taranaki include first-five Josh Jacomb and hooker Bradley Slater.Barrett played only one test during the "Greatest Rivalry" series won 3-1 by the Springboks - the final match in Baltimore in the United States.His brother, Scott, the former All Blacks captain, made a successful return for Taranaki in their 50-14 victory over Hawke's Bay on Sunday. Scott was making his comeback from back surgery.Beauden, who has played 145 tests, will be hoping the run-out against Wellington, yet to win a match this season, puts him in the frame for the 34-man All Blacks squad for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series which will be named on Tuesday.The All Blacks play Australia at Eden Park on October 10 and in Sydney a week later.With Jacomb also in the mix for Taranaki on Sunday, it is likely that Barrett will start at fullback.All Blacks available for their provinces this week:Thursday: Otago v Auckland at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 7:10pm Otago: Saula Ma'uFriday: Southland v Northland at Invercargill Rugby Park, 7:10pm Southland: Semisi Ta'eiloa Northland: Simon ParkerSaturday: Manawatū v Canterbury at Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North, 2:05pm Canterbury: Sam Darry; George BellCounties Manukau v Hawke's Bay at Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe, 5:05pmWaikato v Tasman at FMG Stadium Waikato, 7:10pm Waikato: Cortez Ratima Tasman: Noah Hotham; Timoci TavatavanawaiSunday:Taranaki v Wellington at Stadium Taranaki, 2:05pm Taranaki: Beauden Barrett; Bradley Slater; Josh Jacomb Wellington: Siale LauakiBay of Plenty v North Harbour at Tauranga Domain, 4:35pm Bay of Plenty: Emoni Narawa; Fehi Fineanganofo