Analysis: Where has Beauden Barrett's kick-pass gone?
It seems like last year an endless supply of cross-field kicks fuelled the Hurricanes attack, led by Beauden Barrett.
Rainbow after rainbow sailed through the air to the likes of Laumape, Savea, Jane and younger brother Jordie on the flanks, much to the embarrassment of the opposition.
This year the kick-pass has been shelved for the most part by Barrett, tucked away back in the bag of tricks.
It seems strange that something so successful would almost disappear so quickly. Was it just a short-term gimic? Have edge defences patched up their shortcomings? Will we ever see it again in such frequency as 2017?
To find the answer, we explored what made the kick-pass so successful in the first place looking back at the scenarios it was deployed in.
In phase play, the most effective kicks came from ‘hot ball’ – either a quick turnover in attacking position or a decent break down the field. In both of these situations, a back-peddling defensive line offered an invitation to attack wide. With a scrambling defence, Barrett could use his precise boot to drop a dime over the top if space on the edge offered.
In transition plays, the opposition back three can find themselves operating a man down, making it hard to operate the pendulum between the wingers and fullback.
There is no better example of this than against the Stormers, where he pulls the strings expertly on Dillyn Leyds. Entrenched in a kicking battle, Barrett identifies space in behind and opts to chip on the counter.
The dink finds the open space and draws Leyds (11) off his wing to clean up the loose ball.
Leyds tries to return serve downfield but is charged down by Brad Shields. The Hurricanes re-gather the loose ball and create a high-pressure transition phase for the Stormers.
We can see the space developing in behind as the Stormers struggle to retreat after the error. The quick turnover sets the platform for the kick-pass, and Leyds is caught out of position.
Leyds frantically sprints back to cover the space but the Hurricanes recycle is too fast. The call has been made and Barrett puts the ball on the money in the exposed edge channel, hitting Cory Jane on the chest for five points.
Turning the ball over to the Hurricanes in your own half was an invitation for disaster, and one of the ways Barrett utilised his cross-field kicks to great effect.
Another phase play scenario was from opposition exit kicks. Having the opposition deep in their own territory is a good starting point. If the clearance failed to find touch, the Hurricanes had possession in striking range.
This situation is one the Hurricanes carefully plan to deliberately get ex-NRL winger Ngani Laumape onto the edge. We can see Laumape turn his back on the exit kick and make a beeline for the opposite touchline when retreating, setting himself up for a few phases later.
If space is available or he sights the winger up in the line, Laumape can make the call for the cross kick.
The Hurricanes also used the wipers option from set-piece for a one-on-one aerial contest, positioning the winger right on the touchline to get an isolated matchup. This was more of a calculated gamble, using a big man like Savea in the air against another winger.
This year they have focused more on using scrums with TJ Perenara as a playmaker, keeping ball in hand and utilising the strength of Laumape as a runner and the finishing touch of Ben Lam on the edge, rarely bringing out a cross-kick from set-piece.
So why have we seen reduced usage in phase play?
A lot has to do with the emergence of Ben Lam as a force on the wing, who has been given a lot of ball through the hands even though the kick-pass could be on. The Hurricanes haven’t used Lam in the air as much as they did with Savea on the left wing.
The absence of Cory Jane also has taken away a good jumping option on the right side, and perhaps it’s a communication problem – the calls may not be coming in without the experience of Jane.
The space has still been there, but the Hurricanes have just done other things.
Jordie Barrett (15) calls for the cross-field kick at the bottom of the screen but Beauden shapes to pass.
A lot of it has to do with Barrett looking to play more with a wide passing game. He has tried to use the long pass more but it hasn’t been as effective, often hitting the winger stagnant with the delivery behind the player.
When the Hurricanes enter the opposite half through their own possession, they have stayed true to using the 1-3-3-1 pattern to attack from, using Laumape as a backdoor release option in a receiver role.
The movement usually entails running multiple forwards around the corner to the opposite touchline from the lineout and then playing back through the pattern using the backdoor release options to keep one phase moving. This has expanded Laumape’s role a bit more and sees him tied up in the middle.
The quick ball scenarios off turnovers and long breaks haven’t been there this year – the opposition hasn’t been coughing up possession under pressure in their own half and the Hurricanes haven’t made massive inroads from their own half. Holding possession for long phases has been an issue. A chance to use the kick-pass might be developing but the ball is turned over too soon.
Heading into a do-or-die clash against the Chiefs, Beauden Barrett shouldn’t be afraid to pull out the kick-pass that was so effective in 2017. His wide passing hasn’t been clinical this year and he can exploit the space by using an old trick.
There is no better player in the game at doing it, and now could be just be the right time to bring it back.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be a good game. COYQ
1 Go to comments“Shock”, the guy was casually saying he was just slightly surprised. Nowadays if you say anything it gets taken completely out of context. Calm down everyone.
154 Go to commentsAll I can say after reading this bitter, sour, sad piece is… Thank you very much! This will be read in the change room just before kick off on 31 August…
175 Go to commentsLook, we know contradicting opinions and wacky comments bring readers and clicks, so well done to RP for allowing always-wrong-Ben to say something here. However RP needs to put a disclaimer next to his comments for their own credibility. NZ was and is incapable of acknowledging their opp beating them. They refused so with Ire and with Arg in 2022 and also the Boks in 2023 x 2. Nothing Ben says here holds water, NZ attacked backwards, except when Kolisi and Kolbe was off And cyncialy took out Bongi, we played without lineouts for 75mins. Kolisi and Kurt-Lee almost scored twice. Thats 3 vs 2 for Boks, but the Boks opportunities was legal. Boks should have been 16-3 up by half time. Tacticaly the Boks attacked better defended better scrummed better (without a hooker) kicked better and crossed the whitewash more times. Boks beat Fr Eng Nz to win in 23, comeon give some credit at least. Even Federer Verstappen NY Mets, Mamoa, was able to see a great human sport achievement by the Boks and their DNA Boks #RWC27 !🏉
175 Go to commentsForget the 85kg bit, that can become something else. However I do like the one off test on ANZAC day idea. SR plays Fri/ Sat, test players travel Sunday and the squads have the full week together before playing Saturday. Rest of SR has a week off. Either involve women's teams in same location or in the other country and rotate annually. Herbert is right in that change is needed.
3 Go to commentsI’ve read loads of nonsense before but this article takes the cake. Or perhaps someone changed the date for April Fool's Day.
3 Go to commentsReally Rugbypass? Ben Smith I think you forgot what the Springboks did to the All Blacks at Twickenham 8 weeks earlier? Springboks 35 All Blacks 7. There is alot of ifs and buts in your article. The All Blacks threw the sink at the Springboks and unfortunately they were not good enough regardless if they played with 14 men or not. It was the Springboks who forced the All Blacks to make mistakes! Sorry but not Sorry the Springboks is the best ever Rugby World Cup Nation in the world. 4 Cups baby!
175 Go to commentsYou just backed the Boks with that fantastic review! Well done! Have some cake!
175 Go to commentsBen Smith please write up something better than this. The Springboks would have won the world cup if you were 15 men on the field. They would have found a way, they always find a way to beat the All Blacks.
175 Go to commentsWow, there is a lot of “could have” and “ should have” in this waist of time dribble. I love the desperation in this story to search for a glimpse at a silver lining. Here are the facts, NZ was a badly coached and undisciplined shadow of their former glory. They never took the lead in a game they were never going to win.
175 Go to commentsGOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
3 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
175 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
2 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
175 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
175 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
175 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
175 Go to comments