ABs, Canes: We’re all in this together

The Hurricanes and All Blacks will sing from the same hymn sheet in 2019.

Now-former coach Chris Boyd courted controversy this year by expressing dissatisfaction with the insertion of All Blacks’ camps into the Super Rugby calendar. He didn’t care for how that news was communicated either, nor was he that enamoured of having to sit All Blacks out for two rest weeks as well.

Boyd and the camps are gone,

consistent he has been and I’d never question his commitment. He trains as hard as anybody, he’s a great thinker and he’s a good person. with the prescribed rests all that are set to remain ahead of the World Cup. Absent, too, appears to be any ill-feeling between the national team and the Super Rugby franchises.

‘‘We met with the All Blacks last week when they were here in Wellington, myself and Plum [new Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree], and had a really positive meeting about next year,’’ Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said.

"I think it’s going to be better than it has been because the

‘‘We all watched the game and it was a tough night for Beaudy. But he’s got a great attitude too, so he will have been hurting on Saturday night, but he’s also got a competition finishes in one block. We haven’t got a June [test] series, and then they go longterm [to prepare for the World Cup] so the All Blacks haven’t go the same need to bring players into camps. We’re comfortable with where that conversation’s at and I think, if anything, the discussion between the All Blacks and the Super Rugby teams is as good as it’s been.’’

What this means is that in 2019, All Blacks will sit two Super games out in an effort to try to manage their workloads.

really good balance in his life with his family and his partner and his interests.’’

For someone who has been World Rugby player of the year two seasons running, it’s remarkable how Barrett has fashioned a reputation as unreliable and disinterested, particularly at Super level. If the Hurricanes haven’t quite reached the heights of 2016’s title win in the last two seasons, it’s not because Barrett has been more focused on the All Blacks.

‘‘I’ve got total faith in him, to be honest. But that’s the world we live in. If you’re a public figure that sort of comes with the territory,’’ said Lee.

‘‘You get a lot of plaudits when things go well but, as soon as they don’t, it’s pretty tough.

‘‘My personal opinion is the All Blacks came up against an outstanding Springboks team. They were committed, they were ferocious and they put the All Blacks under pressure. Beaudy missed a couple of kicks but, if you look at the whole game, they were just better than us.’’