Five- eighths battle likely to define Blues and Hurricanes clash
by Wynne Gray All sorts of pictures have been painted about the return clash between the Blues and Hurricanes but ultimately the five- eighths landscape should dictate this result.
The Blues have kept faith with Chris Noakes for tonight’s game at Eden Park while the Hurricanes have brought in Tusi Pisi and pushed Beauden Barrett to fullback.
Noakes and Barrett deliver some anxiety for their coaches with their work on defence but both bring a calm authority with their direction and attack. The Blues have persevered, helping Noakes with his tackling techniques and using him in a variety of defensive duties. His astute command, goal kicking and all round radar keep him in the red in the selectors’ books.
Barrett is in credit too as an All Black should be, but not enough to wear the No 10 jersey.
Reactions range from those who say Mark Hammett has been spooked by Barrett’s defensive frailty on the inside channels to those who subscribe to the best use of resources theory.
Whatever the veracity of any suggestion, the Canes have exchanged him for Pisi, a well- travelled fiveeighths with his rugby roots out west of Auckland.
He is experienced and likes to take on the line but he has not been a regular Super 15 competitor.
If he gets his skates on and plugs the holes close to lineouts and rucks which troubled the Canes last week, the Canes’ threat will increase.
They are down on manpower though with Victor Vito, Jeremy Thrush, Karl Lowe and Dane Coles not ready although they have ramped up the excitement quota with Ardie