Barretts set to start for Hurricanes
HAMISH BIDWELL
Jordie Barrett is poised to join brother Beauden in the Hurricanes’ starting XV on Sunday.
The younger Barrett arrived in Argentina yesterday, where the Hurricanes are due to meet the Jaguares at 10.40am (NZ time). Jordie Barrett hasn’t played Super Rugby since injuring his shoulder in last year’s semifinal loss to the Lions, but saw some action for the Hurricanes’ development team on Sunday and replaces Wes Goosen (ankle) in the squad to play in Buenos Aires.
Prop Tolu Fahamokioa has also joined the team - with Toby Smith now in concussion protocols - but all eyes will be on the Barrett brothers this week.
‘‘We’ve got selection [meetings] tonight but he’s had 30 minutes for the development team and is looking good,’’ Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree said of Jordie Barrett.
Centre Matt Proctor had to play fullback, in Sunday’s 21-19 loss to the Bulls, so Jordie Barrett’s return to the fold - a week ahead of schedule - is a real bonus. And, having flown all that way, there’s surely no point not starting him.
Plumtree was also asked if Beauden Barrett would automatically slot at first five-eighth, having been on the bench in Pretoria and then come on and played fullback. Plumtree ‘‘thought so’’ but didn’t want to say outright until the selection meeting had been convened.
Hurricanes halfback, and vice-captain, TJ Perenara didn’t think there was much reason to leave Jordie Barrett out.
‘‘He’s looking good and if he gets the opportunity I think he’ll be sweet to go,’’ Perenara said.
It’s just the dose of good news the team needed after their shock loss to the Bulls and one or two of the challenges since.
‘‘It was a bit of a hell trip on the way over [to Buenos Aires],’’ said Plumtree.
‘‘A lot of time in aeroplanes and time in airports. It felt like about a million hours by the time we got here, to be honest. It’s a tough trip, so today we just took it easy .. and we’ll rip into it tomorrow.
‘‘Some of our baggage didn’t come. We had about six or seven players that didn’t have their gear last night, so it’s been a bit of tough trip. But we’re all here and good to go, so [we] start our prep tomorrow [on] Thursday, nail it Friday and rip into it on Saturday.’’