It’s that man Barrett ... again
Beauden Barrett, honestly. I mean who crosskicks in front of their own posts, with their team completely under the pump and just six minutes to go?
Turns out the Hurricanes’ first fiveeighth does, producing a pinpoint kick to send left wing Julian Savea scorching down the touchline. Seventy metres later Savea was hauled in, offloading for second five-eighth Ngani Laumape to score.
A very shaky 27-22 lead suddenly became 34-22 and the home side ultimately went on to win 41-22 and register another Super Rugby bonus-point win at Westpac Stadium. Not without a few scares, though.
It all began with an out-of-character opening 40 minutes from the Hurricanes. Beauden Barrett kicked a lot, for starters. There were three crosskicks for tries – or should that be chip passes – to Cory Jane, Julian Savea and Jordie Barrett, with the latter also scoring an improbable five-pointer from a TJ Perenara grubber.
But beyond those occasions, Beauden Barrett put boot to ball a lot in general play. Sometimes it was in an attacking sense, occasionally for defensive or percentage reasons, but it was a marked difference from the usual ball-in-hand style the Hurricanes are known for.
Partly that was due to referee Glen Jackson, whose rulings wouldn’t have upset the Stormers. They kicked three first-half penalties and scored a converted try from a lineout drive when they’d kicked a penalty to touch, to trail just 22-16 at halftime.
The Hurricanes had scored four tries to one but – continuing the theme of unusual occurrences – Jordie Barrett was only able to convert the first of them. That only lessened with SP Marais – entrusted with the kicking after Robert du Preez went of injured – booted his third penalty, just after the resumption. The Hurricanes had said the Stormers would present a big test but 22-19 flattered the visitors.
Next thing you know Jackson had found further fault with the Hurricanes and it was 22-22 with 23 minutes to play.