Chiefs unlikely to travel for SA Super matches
The Chiefs’ Super Rugby trip to South Africa looks unlikely, following the New Zealand Government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that as of midnight today every person arriving will have to isolate themselves for 14 days.
The Chiefs were set to leave early tomorrow morning for matches against the Sharks in Durban next Sunday, and against the Lions in Johannesburg the following week.
However, with the strict new isolation period upon their return, the trip looks a strong possibility of being canned.
A Chiefs spokesperson said there was as yet no decision on their movements.
‘‘We have only received this announcement like everyone else. Our next steps will be a Sanzaar decision and we are working through those options with them.’’
The Chiefs were bracing for this possibility on Friday night after their loss to the Hurricanes in Hamilton, with captain Sam Cane saying they were being kept well informed.
‘‘Rob Nicol and the Rugby Players’ Association, New Zealand Rugby, the communication’s been pretty open,’’ he said.
‘‘We don’t know for sure at the moment. But we’ll just trust they’ll make the right decisions. It’s out of our hands. It’s a bit of a crazy time all around the world isn’t it.’’
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes feel it’s just a coincidence that Jordie Barrett’s splendid 2020 Super Rugby form has come without the shadow of big brother Beauden.
Jordie was a massive figure in the Hurricanes’ 27-24 win over the Chiefs, involved in plenty of the visitors’ good stuff, then also slotting the game-winning penalty kick after the siren.
It continues a sublime early part of the season for the talented fullback, who has plenty to play for in what will be a hotlycontested All Blacks backline when head coach Ian Foster names his first squad of the year.
But any suggestion the 23-year-old is suddenly freed up to express himself more since the absence of now Blues boy Beauden is merely just a coincidence, according to cocaptain TJ Perenara.
‘‘I think that’s just people purely trying to build hype – ‘well, Jordie’s playing mean, it’s cause Beaudy’s not there’ – that’s people trying to create a story where I don’t think there is one,’’ Perenara said following the win at FMG Stadium Waikato.
‘‘I think Jordie’s finding out who he is. Jordie’s come into a zone in his career and his maturity where he’s like ‘man, I’m actually pretty good at this game’. I genuinely think that’s what it is.
‘‘He’s always been awesome, I’ve always seen the talent and he’s always been able to kick the ball a really long way. But I think he believes that he’s really good at this game too now. And it’s not arrogance, it’s confidence.
‘‘I’m enjoying his confidence to dominate the ball, his confidence to dominate shots at goal, and be like ‘I can kick this, I want to carry the ball, I want to ball-play’.’’
From sending the wide pass for Ben Lam’s opening try, Barrett went on to have a gamehigh 19 carries, beat a team-high six defenders and made a clean break.
He almost had a miraculous try but for a simultaneous grounding, made a massive play late to keep a Chiefs penalty kick to touch in-play, goalkicked mostly well including landing those final three points, while Perenara said he was also due credit for in their patient 36-phase buildup.
‘‘Jordie dominated that part of the game, he was like ‘man, just keep going, we’ll give ourselves an opportunity’.’’
Next Friday, Barrett will get a crack at another brother, Scott, as the Hurricanes take on the Crusaders in Christchurch.