Spicy derbies and spicy duels
Round three of Super Rugby underlined the unpredictability of this year’s competition and that’s a good thing. The Hurricanes rebounded in fine fashion, but the Chiefs and Blues have the wobbles. The Crusaders, meanwhile, just keep on charging. Here’s a look at the weekend ahead:
1. The Highlanders have drilled deep into their pool of blindside flankers, asking Jackson Hemopo to duel it out against the Hurricanes’ Vaea Fifita in Wellington tonight.
With test No 6 Liam Squire still unavailable because of a hip injury, and the promising Shannon Frizell on a rest week, the Highlanders have given the All Blacks selectors a chance to hoover up valuable intelligence from the Hemopo-Fifita clash. The race for the blindside spot is already gathering pace, and Squire will be frustrated to not advance past Go.
2. Jordie Barrett’s appearance on the wing for the Hurricanes could be a blessing.
Or a curse. Depends on how you look at it. Some players hate the utility tag, believing the jack-of-alltrades title could diminish their value when wise people sit around a selection table. Others say it enhances their chances, in terms of providing the selectors multiple options.
In the case of Barrett, if his form warrants it, versatility should book his passage to the World Cup.