Barrett takes break on the golf course
Jordie Barrett is playing in the New Zealand Open pro-am during his All Blacks rest week.
The All Blacks fullback has been rested for the Hurricanes’ match against the Sunwolves today at McLean Park in Napier.
It is one of his two New Zealand Rugbyprescribed rest weeks. Those rest weeks prevent the players from attending training and are designed as much as a mental break as physical, with Barrett likely to have been playing golf had he stayed in Wellington.
Barrett was paired with Auckland professional Sam An for the pro-am at The Hills Golf Club in Queenstown. He joined his brother, Beauden, and fellow All Blacks Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown at the tournament, but the latter two Chiefs are on a bye, while Beauden remains on extended leave from the Blues.
Barrett wasn’t the only high-profile name missing from the Hurricanes’ 23-man squad, with co-captain Dane Coles also out, but that was due to a little niggle in his injury-plagued calf muscle picked up during training.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland didn’t expect Coles’ injury to be serious and said he should be back for their round six match against the Blues at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
TJ Perenara will captain the side in his absence from halfback, so his rest will have to come later in the season.
First-five Jackson Garden-Bachop sustained a fracture in his hand during his side’s win over the Sharks in round three.
He will be out for at least a few weeks and has been replaced by Fletcher Smith at 10, with veteran utility back James Marshall on the bench.
Loose forward Reed Prinsep and prop Fraser Armstrong are out with muscular injuries for another week or two, while winger Wes Goosen has been rotated out of the 23.
South African back Kobus van Wyk starts in his place at right wing and Chase Tiatia gets a chance at fullback to fill in for Barrett.
Xavier Numia has earned the start at loosehead prop to replace Armstrong.
The Sunwolves gave the Hurricanes an almighty fright in Tokyo last year when jumping out to a 23-7 lead before the Hurricanes ultimately won 29-23.
Holland said they remained a dangerous side, having already claimed the scalp of the Rebels this season.
‘‘They’re a side that have had some big results in the last few years, they get up for big games, but can be off the mark for other games,’’ he said.
‘‘We know if they put a performance together and we’re off the mark, then they’ll really hurt us.
‘‘They’ll live off our errors and our turnovers and play a fast brand of footy.’’
The Sunwolves’ game against the Brumbies in round six will not go ahead in Tokyo because of coronavirus, with an alternative venue sought, but Holland said there were no concerns ahead of this weekend’s game.