Big guns back for Canes
Beauden and Jordie Barrett’s Hurricanes team-mates might wish they are also sporting fresh tans to camouflage red faces ahead of the game against the Chiefs this weekend.
While the Barretts were sharpening their golf games and enjoying the hospitality in Fiji during their compulsory All Blacks ‘‘rest week’’, the Hurricanes had been in Tokyo preparing to play the Sunwolves in their Super Rugby fixture last Friday evening.
Leaving Japan with a 29-23 win could be considered a satisfactory result, although when you sift through the finer details it’s clear the Hurricanes would have preferred to be more polished in a number of areas against the Sunwolves; 16 turnovers contributed to a messy display, and things didn’t look flash when the visitors trailed 23-10 at halftime.
It’s likely the Hurricanes coaching staff would have raised the matter of mistakes with the team, potentially causing some discomfort for some individuals.
As assistant coach Jason Holland noted, the Hurricanes gave the Sunwolves too many opportunities in that first spell: ‘‘Errors was the main thing, we didn’t have patience with the ball and we made some key handling errors which let them in,’’ Holland said. Beauden Barrett is available to return for the Hurricanes against the Chiefs, having spent time in Fiji during the All Blacks’ "rest week’’.
‘‘It was just accuracy really. Accuracy around what we are trying to do let us down and it was lucky to get that right.’’
Holland confirmed the Barrett boys will be available to re-join the backline for the upcoming match in Wellington on Saturday night, as will All Blacks No 7 Ardie Savea who had also been on a rest week.
At least the Hurricanes flew back to New Zealand in the knowledge they had banked another four competition points. The Chiefs made even more mistakes during their 23-17 loss to the Lions in Hamilton, with assistant coach Tabai Matson noting in the aftermath of that sloppy effort they allowed their opponents to have too many free punches.
Despite their unconvincing form the Hurricanes remain second on the log on 27 points, trailing the Crusaders by 7. The good news for the Hurricanes is that they are still finishing on the right side of the ledger.
‘‘You have to take the positives and negatives with that,’’ Holland said. ‘‘Obviously we are not playing as well as we would like to, but it’s big ups that we are finishing games off and coming from positions where we think we might be gone. So it’s awesome for our character.
‘‘Getting those four points on the board, staying in the hunt and being in a good spot in a few weeks time is vital.’’
When the Hurricanes and Chiefs previously met in Hamilton on March 15, they drew 23-23.
Wing Ben Lam left the field during the game in Tokyo, but Holland suggested it wasn’t a major issue.
‘‘It’s just niggly. We are just waiting to see what happens with that over the next couple of days. He could have probably played on, but we took precautions there.’’
Following the injury to All Blacks and Chiefs fullback/No 10 Damian McKenzie there has been speculation that the versatile Jordie Barrett could be an option as the third first five-eighth.
The Hurricanes already have Beauden Barrett, Fletcher Smith and James Marshall filling their quota of No 10s, and Holland also noted TJ Perenara can cover the position for his Super Rugby team.
‘‘He [Jordie Barrett] has played most other places in the backline, so he could play 10,’’ Holland said.
‘‘We have obviously got TJ as well. TJ is a real solid 10. It won’t come to that for us. We have got some sturdy players at No 10. TJ is a good option as well.’’