Canes need Barrett inspiration
Assuming Jordie Barrett negotiates the next few days of training in a freezing Wellington without incident, expect his name announced beside the Hurricanes No 15 on Friday.
While there’s a danger of placing too much importance on the influence of one player – especially after nearly 16 weeks without rugby – Barrett’s likely return to face the Chiefs on Sunday is not a moment too soon for coach Jason Holland.
Last time the 1.96m All Blacks utility donned a Hurricanes jersey he was an imposing presence at the back at Stadium Waikato (Sunday’s venue) and iced victory with a penalty on the siren against the Chiefs. That was on March 13, also the Hurricanes’ most recent win.
As Barrett struggled with what was described as an ‘‘unstable’’ shoulder, the Hurricanes lost 30-20 to the resurgent Blues in their first post-lockdown match in Super Rugby Aotearoa, then 39-25 to the Crusaders at home before a round three bye.
Those two sides already dominate the market to top the ladder on August 16, with the Crusaders now $1.53 and the Blues $3.10 with the TAB. The rest are in double figures: Highlanders $12, Chiefs $20 and Hurricanes a mammoth $67.
At home, despite narrow defeats to the Highlanders, Blues and Crusaders, the Chiefs are dominant early favourites to extend the Hurricanes to 0-3. As early as week four of this absorbing 10-week competition, the losing side on Sunday (3.35pm) will be near enough to history in 2020 with no playoffs to make a late charge at.
On his early 2020 form,
Barrett’s return would bring calm and composure under the high ball, a prodigious boot in general play and off the tee, and an extra playmaking option for Jackson Garden-Bachop in the mould of brother Beauden.
The older Barrett hasn’t set the competition alight after a lengthy layoff of his own, but produced enough deft touches and direction to complement a tough, well rounded Blues side.
The Hurricanes were squeezed out of the game by the Blues who dominated the second half and gave them nothing, while against the Crusaders they stayed in the contest but made too many errors for the 2019 champions to feed off.
Holland’s wide game looked effective at times, notably in tries to Dane Coles (against the Blues) and Asafo Aumua (against the Crusaders) but some dropped ball and missed lineouts proved costly.
The powerhouse Crusaders schooled both the Hurricanes and Chiefs the last two weeks, even if the margins weren’t huge. The Hurricanes took until the 63rd minute to score their only try, and in the Christchurch rain the Chiefs didn’t cross the line until the 65th minute via Sean Wainui.
They lost 18-13, after the brilliant Sevu Reece and quickthinking fullback Will Jordan combined for two tries: one off a high kick regather and the other a quick throw-in following an Aaron Cruden error when the Chiefs were caught napping, questioning what they claimed was a penalty.
Sunday’s long-range MetService forecast is for rain in Hamilton, so expect some judicious kicking and pressure on the respective back threes. That’s where Barrett’s presence could be the most influential for the Hurricanes as they desperately try to revive their truncated season.