Hurricanes boss clarifies All Blacks influence on Jordie Barrett's midfield shift
Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland has moved to clarify how much input the All Blacks have had over Jordie Barrett’s positional switch from fullback to the midfield.
A utility back who has specialised at fullback and established himself as New Zealand’s best in that position last year, Barrett has been often used as a second-five by the Hurricanes in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific.
The 25-year-old will play in the No 12 jersey for a second successive match – his fifth in total this season – when they host the Rebels this weekend as speculation mounts as to whether it’s at second-five where Barrett will play for the All Blacks.
However, while Barrett’s positional fluidity will give the All Blacks versatility throughout their backline, Holland has revealed that the New Zealand national side has had no input on his decision to alternate the 36-test star between second-five and fullback.
Instead, Holland insisted on Thursday that, despite the suggestions of some fans and pundits, Barrett’s positional movements have been instigated by the Hurricanes without any involvement from All Blacks boss Ian Foster.
“To be honest, we haven’t had contact,” Holland said ahead of his side’s penultimate regular season match.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s actually completely the opposite, but I think Fozzy’s been awesome at just letting us do our own thing this season and only being involved or having conversations when we need to.
“We haven’t had any conversations around Jordie at all.
“The best thing for the Hurricanes, we reckon, is for Jordie to be playing 12 at the moment, and he gives us something different at 12 around go-forward both sides of the ball.
“I think I’ve said that before, but that’s completely what we think, and Jordie’s well onboard with that, and we’ve got some pretty good bodies in the back three and also, if Jordie’s not there, we’ve got some good centres.
“We’re pretty happy with Jordie at 12, and it’s – to pretty much answer your question – all our doing.”
Holland’s comments come after Foster suggested that he will keep picking Barrett at fullback, telling the New Zealand Herald last month that the decisions of the Hurricanes “doesn’t change our plans too much”.
How Foster utilises Barrett in what looks set to be an all-star All Blacks backline is one of numerous selection headaches facing the New Zealand head coach.
One of those contentious selection points includes which three halfbacks he will carry in his squad for July’s test series against Ireland.
Following World Rugby’s recent clearance of Folau Fakatava’s eligibility for the All Blacks, there is a clear-cut five-man race for those three places.
Joining Fakatava in the hunt for a spot in Foster’s roster is Hurricanes veteran TJ Perenara, who is also facing competition the likes of Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie and Brad Weber.
Perenara is viewed by some as an outside chance to make the next All Blacks squad due to Smith’s experience and the form of Christie and Fakatava, but Holland believes the 30-year-old has improved his game in recent matches.
Holland partially attributed that to internal competition from fellow Hurricanes halfbacks Jamie Booth and Cam Roigard, which he said will put all three players in good stead for their respective international and provincial campaigns.
“In the last couple of games, I think he’s been pretty good,” Holland said of Perenara.
“Against the Drua, I know we talked around a couple of things about him being efficient in his passing. He’s got back to being really efficient in his passing.
“It’s competitive in our environment, too, with Boothy going really well, so I think that’s good for both of them, in that even Cam did really well as well.
“The three of them are putting pressure on here, which will help with whatever happens after our season.
“It is competitive. New Zealand footy is competitive, so you’ve got to be on top of your game, whoever you are.”
Perenara joins Barrett in the starting Hurricanes lineup for Saturday’s clash against the Rebels, which Holland said will be crucial in their push for a top four finish to secure at least one home playoff match.
As things stand, the fifth-placed Hurricanes need the fourth-placed Chiefs to lose one of their final two matches against the Western Force or Fijian Drua if they are to overtake their Kiwi rivals.
Nevertheless, Holland implored his side to maintain their winning record with two further victories over the Rebels and Force to keep themselves within touching distance of the Chiefs.
“I suppose, as a coach, you’ve always got a big picture view on it and you’re figuring out all the things that could happen, and obviously we’d love to play in front of our home crowd and get fourth,” he said.
“It’s probably not just in our control now, as in the Chiefs having to probably drop one for us to get there, but we’ll sort of look at that big picture as coaches and now we’re just week-by-week.
“We’ve just got to get the job done against the Rebels this week and then we’ll have to get job done against the Force, and then we’ll take whatever comes.
“You obviously want to play at home and we’ve just got to make sure we do whatever we can control to make sure that, if that something happens, we’ve got that opportunity.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to comments