Hurricanes have free licence with Jordie
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland has rubbished suggestions that Jordie Barrett’s continued selection at second-five has been dictated by the All Blacks.
In fact, Holland said national team coach Ian Foster would probably rather Barrett played at fullback.
‘‘To be honest we haven’t had any contact and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was completely the opposite,’’ Holland said.
‘‘Fozzie has been awesome in letting us do our own thing this season and has only been involved or having conversations when we need to, but we haven’t had any conversations around Jordie at all.’’
Barrett has been named to start in the No 12 jersey for tomorrow’s clash against the Melbourne Rebels at Sky Stadium with Holland opting deploy his star fullback in the midfield for the fifth time in 11 matches.
With Anton Lienert-Brown ruled out until October with a long-term shoulder injury, the starting second-five for the All Blacks’ first test of the year against Ireland on July 2 has become a hot topic just six weeks out.
Barrett has never started at 12 on the international arena but his strong form there for the Hurricanes has thrust him into the conversation alongside the likes of David Havili, Jack Goodhue, Quinn Tupaea and league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
However, Holland stressed that the Hurricanes were not playing him at second-five for their own benefit, not to prepare him for the test season.
‘‘We think the best thing for the Hurricanes we reckon is for Jordie to be playing at 12 at the moment.
‘‘He gives us something different at 12 around go-forward both sides of the ball.
‘‘We’ve got some pretty good bodies in the back three and if
Jordie is not there in midfield as well.
‘‘We’re pretty happy with Jordie at 12 and to answer your question, that’s all our doing.’’
Trailing the Chiefs by three points with only two rounds to go, the fifth-placed Hurricanes will likely have to beat the Rebels to have any chance of securing a top-four finish and a home quarterfinal in Wellington.
‘‘It’s not just in our control now – the Chiefs have to drop one to get there – but we’ve got to get the job done against the Rebels this week and we’ll have to get the job done against the Force and
we’ll take whatever comes,’’ Holland said.
‘‘But you obviously want to play at home and we’ve just got to make sure we do what we can control so if something happens we’ve got that opportunity.’’
After a couple of appearances off the bench, hooker Dane Coles has been handed his first start of the season in one of eight changes to the starting XV following last weekend’s comeback win over the Waratahs.
The Hurricanes will be without regular captain Ardie Savea, who has been rested, with TK Howden moving from blindside flanker to cover No 8.
TJ Perenara will lead the team from halfback while Ruben Love has been named at fullback after overcoming a groin injury that has sidelined him since midApril.