Barrett modest despite starring role
RUGBY: Anyone who plays with that kind of audacity must be arrogant, right?
Well, if Hurricanes first fiveeighth Beauden Barrett has big tickets on himself, they’re well hidden.
There were a few memorable moments to emerge from the Hurricanes’ 25-9 Super Rugby semifinal win over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium on Saturday, two of which were vintage Barrett. One was a chip and chase that produced a try for Willis Halaholo, with the other being an intercept of a Sam Cane pass that Barrett ran in under the bar.
You and I might revel in explaining how they unfolded, perhaps even include some embellishments. Not Barrett.
Starting with his seventhminute decision to pop a kick over the Chiefs’ defensive line, while deep in his half.
‘‘It was an instinctive play. I got the lucky bounce and yeah . . .,’’ Barrett said.
Lucky or not, he made the most of that bounce by bursting downfield and finally popping a pass to Halaholo, just short of the Chiefs’ tryline.
‘‘What I saw was a brick wall in front of me, so I didn’t really want to run into it. I just saw there was a bit of space in the back and backed myself,’’ said Barrett
He put the intercept, 28 minutes later, down to a bit of good fortune too. ‘‘We weren’t that organised [defensively],’’ he said. As flanker Ardie Savea agreed. ‘‘Beaudy flew up and I was left behind so we’ll probably get a blasting in our ‘D’ review. But [it was a case of] Beauds’ natural brilliance I guess,’’ Savea said.
If Barrett thought there was his brilliance to thank, he didn’t let on.
‘‘They got the ball in pretty quickly. We weren’t set but, yeah, we just kept coming forward and yeah . . .,’’ Barrett said.
Semifinals are funny affairs, particularly if – like the Hurricanes – you’ve lost the previous year’s final. Whatever joy was generated by beating the Chiefs, would surely be tempered by the knowledge there’s a more important game still to come.
Barrett said there was delight at being able to host the Lions in Saturday’s final, but that the team needed to enjoy having beaten the Chiefs first.
‘‘Absolutely. I’m so excited and so happy with the result tonight. I think we’ve got to smell the roses when they come,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve given ourselves an opportunity to go one better than last year, there’s no hiding from that. To have given ourselves that opportunity, we’re just so excited and we’ve earnt another Monday so we’re pumped.’’
Famed over the years for their attacking prowess, the Hurricanes’ defence enabled them to see off the Chiefs. In many ways it was a brave performance and one the team can be proud of.
Barrett, in his modest way, might believe he got lucky a couple of times, but there’s nothing fluky about the fact the team have no gone 221 minutes without conceding a try.
‘‘All credit goes to Plum [John Plumtree], our ‘D’ coach,’’ said Savea.
‘‘It just feels like all the brothers have got confidence to come up and there’s a lot of trust in our ‘D’ line. It was bloody good today and hopefully we can keep like that next week.’’