Barrett retains No13

Even his Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd remains unsure about Jordie Barrett’s best position on the rugby field.

More so after last Saturday’s coolheaded performance at centre in the 31-22 win over the Crusaders, which will likely see Barrett partner Ngani Laumape in midfield again in Friday’s Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Brumbies in Canberra.

Boyd confirmed regular No 13 Vince Aso would miss a second successive Hurricanes match with a groin injury, and he wasn’t on the plane when the team departed for Canberra on Tuesday. The competition’s leading tryscorer with 14 – alongside Laumape – remains a chance of playing the semifinal if the Hurricanes can beat the Brumbies. ‘‘We’re reasonably optimistic he’s on the mend,’’ Boyd said of Aso.

But for now that’s not causing Boyd too much worry given the immense skill, versatility and calmness of the younger Barrett.

‘‘I thought he had a complete skill set to be a 15, or very close to it. When I talked to him when he first came in he saw himself as a midfielder who could play fullback. I saw some snippets of his performance in Saturday’s game that maybe he could be a midfielder as well,’’ Boyd said.

‘‘He’s got a wonderful skill set. He’s probably a bit tall for a halfback but I think he could genuinely play somewhere between 10 and 15 and he wouldn’t do a bad job.’’

Brother Beauden will don the 10 jersey again after he was a late withdrawal from the Crusaders match.