Canes needn’t be bullish with Barrett

OPINION: To bother with Beauden Barrett or not?

‘‘He hasn’t played any preseason minutes, so he’ll come off the bench probably in Pretoria. We may yet choose to make that one of his All Black rest weeks, we’ll wait and see how that pans out,’’ Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd said of Barrett, before the team left for South Africa.

‘‘Rest weeks’’ is the intriguing part of that quote. We’re aware the All Blacks plan to take players out of their franchises for training camps, but prescribing games off hasn’t been widely discussed.

But if the Hurricanes are required to sit Barrett and their other All Blacks out this season, then Sunday’s (NZT) Super Rugby clash with the Bulls would be as good a time as any.

Barrett has been back training only a few weeks and didn’t see any pre-season action. Wedding commitments meant he travelled to South Africa independent of the team, who ought to be good enough to beat the Bulls without him.

Ihaia West wasn’t a raging success at the Blues. But he’s now exposed to better coaching at the Hurricanes, with a more cohesive supporting cast of players around him, and shouldn’t have any trouble playing first five-eighth in Barrett’s absence.

With Jackson Garden-Bachop also in the Hurricanes’ touring party, there’s no need for Barrett to be on the bench either, especially if the Hurricanes are expected to fit rests into their schedule.

Presumably hooker Asafo Aumua is having his as we speak. No-one argues All Blacks don’t need time off, with 12 weeks being the current requirement.

Aumua made two appearances off the bench, in friendly matches, during the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour, but rules are rules.

So, at age 20, and with no Super Rugby experience behind him, Aumua reported for Hurricanes duty on January 29 below peak

condition and was left out of their travelling squad.

Little wonder Boyd huffed and puffed about the length of his All Blacks’ annual leave. Already without the injured Dane Coles, a few extra days with Aumua might have meant the Hurricanes didn’t have to start the season minus both their All Blacks hookers.

And where’s tighthead prop Jeff To’omaga-Allen? News out of, and access to, the Hurricanes has been limited since Boyd offered an insight into his Christmas card list.

Apparently To’omaga-Allen, another of the team’s All Blacks, is injured. But you’re relying on his social media feed for that.

Even without Coles, Aumua, To’omaga-Allen, Beauden Barrett – and fellow injured All Blacks Jordie Barrett and Nehe MilnerSkudder – the Hurricanes will put a good side out on Sunday.

Matt Proctor looms as the likely fullback until Jordie Barrett returns in two or three weeks’ time, with Julian Savea and Wes Goosen to get first crack on the wings. Savea hasn’t held his place in either of the last two seasons and it will be interesting to see if a shift to the right wing changes that.

Vince Aso and Ngani Laumape are a potent midfield combination, with West and TJ Perenara in the halves.

The pack picks itself, particularly while No 8 Blade Thomson and lock Michael Fatialofa are being nursed back. Everyone else is either injured or trying to get fit.