Oh brother: Jordie jests with Beauden
As Hurricanes star Jordie Barrett spoke of the excitement of his first rugby match in nearly four months, the inevitable questions about his older brother followed.
He saw them coming, too, and even aimed a little jibe at brother Beauden who earlier yesterday was a confirmed absentee from next year’s Super Rugby season with the Blues to play in Japan, for a reported $1.5 million.
‘‘Probably well played on his behalf. He’s enjoying playing golf in Queenstown while I have to front and do his media,’’ Jordie said with a laugh, as his brother and the Blues enjoy the bye weekend.
Beauden Barrett will exercise a sabbatical clause in his New Zealand Rugby contract which runs until the next World Cup in 2023, by playing for Suntory Sungoliath early next year then returning for the All Blacks’ tests. Lock Brodie Retallick has a similar arrangement as NZR tries to keep its prized assets while allowing them to cash in overseas.
Jordie Barrett said: ‘‘They’re guys who’ve spent eight or nine years playing in New Zealand and plying their craft here and have done so much for New Zealand Rugby in general. I don’t see any harm in them popping over for a few months and coming back and if they’re good enough to be picked, they’ll be picked. That’s just the way it is and I say fair play.’’
At 23 and with 17 All Blacks tests to his name, Jordie Barrett is contracted to NZR until the end of next year and has a clause in his contract which allows him to switch Super Rugby franchises next year if he wants to.
Barrett is understood to be keen to play alongside his brother again, and the Blues have courted Jordie in the past. With Beauden not there next year, it might help the Hurricanes retain their fullback.
‘‘That’s in my contract but I’m not in any discussions at the moment,’’ Jordie said.
‘‘I’ve been trying to rehab my shoulder and get back and play some footy and I’m super excited about that.’’
Barrett was named in the Hurricanes starting XV to face the Chiefs tomorrow (3.35pm) for his first match since kicking the winning penalty against the same opponents at Stadium Waikato on March 13.
He injured his left shoulder when hitting a tackle bag in the wet at postlockdown training, ‘‘dislocated it and popped a ligament by the armpit’’.
He feels ready to go against the Chiefs, who like the Hurricanes are winless across the first three weeks of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Barrett’s return means the Hurricanes’ four World Cup All Blacks (Ardie Savea, Coles and TJ Perenara the others) all start for the first time since the semifinal loss to the Crusaders a year ago.
With centre Vince Aso (shoulder) and loose forward Gareth Evans (ankle) out with what were described as minor injuries there are four changes to the run-on side from their 39-25 home defeat to the Crusaders.
Barrett returns for Chase Tiatia at fullback, wing Kobus van Wyk replaces a benched Wes Goosen, centre Peter Umaga-Jensen is in for Aso and Scott Scrafton reclaims the starting lock’s jersey from Vaea Fifita.