Search to replace Barrett may end close to home
The worldwide search for Beauden Barrett’s replacement at the Hurricanes could finish in Wellington.
The recruitment drive started in earnest after Barrett announced in July he was leaving for the Blues on a four-year contract.
Hurricanes coach John Plumtree said the market for first-fives was tough.
‘‘We’ve obviously got to find one more and I’m continually looking for that person.
‘‘I’d prefer to go for a bit more experience, but right now that’s easier said than done with some players in Japan and overseas that are already contracted. Most of the 10s are tied up in bigger clubs.’’
The Hurricanes have been linked to the likes of Lima Sopoaga (Wasps in England), Aaron Cruden (believed to have signed in Japan) and Hayden Parker (Sunwolves and Kobe in Japan), but only the latter would seem a viable option given the impending demise of the Sunwolves after the next Super Rugby season.
Sopoaga is under contract until the end of the next European season in the middle of 2020.
The Hurricanes might chase his signature for the 2021 Super Rugby season and beyond, but by then he will be 30 and other options may have emerged.
Plumtree has two 24-year-old first-fives on the books in Wellington’s Jackson Garden-bachop and Waikato’s Fletcher Smith.
Both have played single-digit games for the Hurricanes, although Garden-bachop made 13 appearances for the Melbourne Rebels in 2017.
Smith started the first two games of the 2018 season, but was dragged after 52 and 51 minutes against the Waratahs and Crusaders respectively. He came on strongly late in the season, but that was as a replacement fullback.
Garden-bachop was starting to show a bit of form off the bench early in the season before picking up a knee injury playing for the development team.
Plumtree said both would be given their chance next season.
‘‘We’re pretty happy with what we’ve got. We’re really happy with how Fletcher Smith is playing for Waikato. I’m happy with Jackson Garden-bachop as well – he’s got a few little work-ons, but both those guys will push hard for that position.’’
Plumtree was also liking what he was seeing from the next generation of players. ‘‘We’ve got some promising young players coming through our age-grade teams and in the next two or three years we’ll see that, but you can’t underestimate the players we’ve already got and the opportunity they’ll get.’’