Jordie's selection at fullback, however, sits as the only genuine selection change the All Blacks have opted to make rather than been forced to make and while many had predicted he would come in for Damian McKenzie, and some even went so far as to plead his case, it's possibly a more significant change than it might first appear.
As eager as the All Blacks coaching staff have been to note their satisfaction with McKenzie's performances this year, there is perhaps reason to wonder if they doth protest too much.
The Chiefs playmaker has delivered such a curious mix at fullback as to simultaneously justify and query the All Blacks coaches having heaped so much praise upon him.
What he's done particularly well is get himself involved as a first receiver. Head coach Ian Foster is no lover of the term dual playmakers yet he does like the concept.
The All Blacks' attack benefits from an abundance of decision-makers and there is licence for their fullback to inject himself into the throng and get his hands on the ball.
This is McKenzie's strong suit and as a player who has harboured realistic ambitions of being the All Blacks' long-term No 10, it's a skillset that comes relatively easily and readily to him.
It's in this specific regard – as an out and out second receiver with the ability to direct the attack from the front line – that McKenzie initially earned the No 15 jersey ahead of Barrett earlier this year.
But as much as the All Blacks want their fullback to be a pseudo No 10, so too do they want their fullback to be a fullback and it's here where McKenzie has possibly lost ground.
Foster made note in announcing the team that their expectation is that their fullback needs a strong physical presence in the backfield, a big voice, a hard defensive edge and an attacking thrust in the wider channels.
There were times in both Bledisloe Cup tests when McKenzie, such is the plight of an athlete of his limited physical stature, was thrown about by the Wallabies. He was also brushed off a few times in making cover tackles.
But his failings in the core role have also extended to his decision-making and his guidance of others in managing the back three.
It became apparent early in the second test that the Wallabies were targeting him as they had deduced a vulnerability to exploit and essentially Barrett is coming into the role this week to give the All Blacks greater physical presence.
Barrett has worked tirelessly on his decision-making and ability to influence the game as a first receiver. But even he would admit that while he's vastly better at that side of his role now, he's not quite in McKenzie's class.
But what he does bring is greater size, presence, defensive crunch and a booming boot.
That's why he's been recalled – the All Blacks need to see if bringing him in creates more cohesion within their back three and enables better transition out of the backfield.
McKenzie's counter-attack running was too lateral and hesitant against the Wallabies – a problem Barrett rarely suffers from as he, at 105kg knows the damage he can cause by keeping his running lines straight.
Foster, knowing that the upcoming games against the Pumas and Springboks will come with more kicking and aerial contests, needs to see whether what he loses in front-line playmaking is compensated by what they gain in the backfield with Barrett.
They haven't quite been convinced that the weighting of McKenzie's skills portfolio is quite right for them.
He is, despite his extended experience in the No 15 jersey, still more of a converted No 10 than an orthodox fullback, whereas Barrett is the reverse – an orthodox fullback with enough comfort in his pass and catch and decision-making to dabble at 10.
