Ardie Savea's injury may be a major hurdle, but there's one player that will be far more difficult for the Hurricanes to replace
2020 is not shaping up as an easy season for Hurricanes supporters.
Beauden Barrett and Ardie Savea, arguably the Hurricane’s two best players over the past few years, will both be absent for at least the start of the season.
Barrett has, of course, taken up a contract with the Blues (but also won’t be making an appearance for the Auckland-based side until late in the season) while Savea could be sidelined for up to six months thanks to knee surgery.
Factor in the departure of Matt Proctor, who coach John Plumtree has previously lauded as the best defensive midfielder in New Zealand, and it’s starting to look like the Hurricanes could find themselves struggling in the upcoming season.
There’s also the small issue that Plumtree himself might face an early exit from the Hurricanes, should he pick up a role with the All Blacks.
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All that being said, it’s not like 2016’s Super Rugby champions haven’t got a number players on their books who can help cover the absences of the missing trio.
Of last year’s loose forwards, Vaea Fifita, Reed Prinsep, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Gareth Evans remain with the Hurricanes. The latter two are both experienced operators on the flank, but it’s Kirifi that will likely get first shot in the 7 jersey.
Kirifi, who debuted for the Hurricanes earlier this year, had a coming-of-age season in 2019 while captaining Wellington to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final.
The New Plymouth-born loose forward may not have the brute strength of Savea, but his enterprise over the park should at least keep the breakdowns ticking over.
Evans, who can cover all three loose forward positions, will likely find himself spending a bit time on the flanks in the upcoming season thanks to the recruitment of two number 8s, Murphy Taramai and Devan Flanders.
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Flanders, who spent two years with the New Zealand under 20 side, is an especially exciting prospect, while Taramai has accrued 19 caps for the Blues.
Jumping to the midfield, Proctor is a player that the Hurricanes will likely miss more than many expect.
The 27-year-old, one-test All Black is already making a name for himself in Northhampton, having scored a brace of tries over the weekend against former-heavyweights Leicester.
In Proctor’s absence, the youthful pairing of Danny Toala and Peter Umaga-Jensen will be expected to step up. Both impressed during their schoolboy years and represented New Zealand on a national level, and the combination performed admirably when an understrength Hurricanes side dismantled the Blues at the tail-end of this year’s Super Rugby competition.
There’s also Billy Proctor, Matt’s younger brother, who signed a mammoth five-year deal with the Hurricanes to keep him in New Zealand’s capital until the end of 2023.
The Hurricanes' midfielder has sent a message to other pro players to prove themselves.? https://t.co/XzBjqfRg5x
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Billy didn’t make quite as many waves during his schoolboy days as Toala and Umaga-Jensen, but evidently the Hurricanes see him someone who could fill a long-term role with the Hurricanes.
Other midfield options include Vince Aso, who was employed mainly at centre for Wellington this year, with Billy Proctor at fullback, and South African signing Kobus van Wyk – a surprising signing, given the seeming wealth of midfield resources that New Zealand currently has on offer.
A wildcard option could be Jordie Barrett – a man who has arguably played his best football in the 12 jersey.
Barrett can cover every position from 10 outwards and seems destined to take control of the fullback berth for 2020, but a move to the midfield could allow the playmaker to flourish.
When Barrett burst onto the scene for Canterbury in 2016 at the age of just 19, he was touted as the next big thing. Both the Crusaders and the Hurricanes came calling but Barrett eventually decided to link up with his older brother in Wellington.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5hL2LkA58s/
At this point in time, you have to wonder whether that was the best move. He’s still learning his craft in the professional game, make no doubt about that, but the inside backs factory of Crusader-land could’ve helped him hone is natural ability in a way that no one at the Hurricanes probably can.
The Hurricanes are excellent at helping to bring out the X-factor in players – but that’s never really been an issue for Jordie. What he really needs is a calming influence, and that’s simply not the style of game that the Hurricanes are known to play.
Still, Barrett might have a challenge getting his hands on the 12 jersey with Ngani Laumape coming off a scorcher of a year for both the Hurricanes and Manawatu.
Laumape was a notable omission from the All Blacks World Cup squad and so went about his business destroying midfield defenders in New Zealand’s provincial game.
With Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams both heading overseas, Laumape will have his sights firmly focussed on an All Blacks berth in 2020.
After taking a brief hiatus during the recent Rugby World Cup in Japan, the RugbyPass Player of the Month award is back and the recipient for November is Ulster back rower @marcell_coetzee https://t.co/WeNFgfyQCo
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Whether it’s Toala, Umaga-Jensen, Proctor or Aso who slots in at outside centre, the Hurricanes midfield will be a threat on both attack and defence.
That brings us to the franchise’s biggest concern for 2019: the 10 jersey.
With Beauden Barrett out of the picture, the Hurricanes desperately need one of their less experienced flyhalf options to step up.
Waikato’s Fletcher Smith has looked the stronger player in the Mitre 10 Cup over the last couple of years but Wellington’s Jackson Gardon-Bachop has perhaps looked more astute in his chances at the next level up.
There’s promise in both of them but, again, how well will the Hurricanes be able to nurture that talent?
Neither TJ Perenara at halfback nor Ngani Laumape at second-five appeals as the kind of commander that can help guide a young first-five in the early stages of their career.
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There’s a reason why middle-of-the-road 10s have flourished at the Highlanders, and it’s partially because Aaron Smith is capable of serving up ball on a platter, courtesy of the side’s industrious forwards.
It’s a lot easier to gain confidence and prosper at the Super Rugby level when you’re not constantly having to deal with slow ball that leaves you with a rushing defence already in your face by the time a pass is in your hands.
Unfortunately, the above is a scenario that any Hurricanes first five may well find themselves in when the upcoming season kicks-off.
Replacing world-class players is not something that can be done overnight and the Hurricanes will struggle in 2020 thanks to the losses of Beauden Barrett, Matt Proctor and Ardie Savea.
Despite the fact that Proctor has been a criminally underrated player over the last few years and Savea’s absence is coming with relatively short notice, it’s the loss of playmaker Barrett that will be felt the hardest by the Hurricanes.
WATCH: The Hurricanes are part-way through a three-year partnership with Japanese club Ricoh.
Comments on RugbyPass
Hats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to comments