Aso sets Canes’ record for tries

BEAUDEN Barrett kicked and kicked well. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, British and Irish Lions.

At some stage we’ve all spent some time on the high horse, having a go at Barrett about his goalkicking. Well, he knocked them over at 100 per cent at Westpac Stadium on Saturday night, as the the Hurricanes beat the Cheetahs 61-7.

Centre Vince Aso created a bit of franchise history along the way. But with the Lions’ tour looming on the horizon, the fact Barrett booted a few balls between the sticks probably had the greater news value.

It certainly had more than the fact the Hurricanes made pretty short work of some modest opposition.

Earlier in the piece, an Ardie Savea try just before halftime had ensured the score had a realistic look about it. The Hurricanes had been quite a bit better than the Cheetahs and 21-7 reflected that more obviously than 14-7 had done.

The most heartening thing, though, was seeing Barrett kicking well off the tee, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd had said during the week that first five-eighth Otere Black would probably take the shots at goal.

Instead it was Barrett, in the uncustomary No 15 jumper, STANDINGS

Llining them up and knocking them over. He kicked three-fromthree in the first 40 minutes, having watched brother Jordie taking the Hurricanes’ shots at goal for the past two months.

Barrett is a remarkable, often thrilling, player. And when he’s kicking goals well, too, he becomes the total package.

The Hurricanes couldn’tquite