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Super switch?: All Blacks star Beauden Barrett could leave Hurricanes for Blues in sensational switch
By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald
All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett could be about to make a shock move from the Hurricanes to the Blues, a transfer a long time in the making and which would have a huge impact on the fortunes of both franchises.
The two-time World Rugby player of the year was close to joining the Blues in 2016, instead signing again with the Hurricanes, where he has been since 2011. But the Herald understands the underperforming Auckland-based franchise have never given up luring the quality playmaker north and will privately hope they have done enough to get him over the line this time.
Barrett is the one key All Black yet to declare his intentions after this year and initially wanted to announce his re-commitment to New Zealand Rugby alongside Brodie Retallick, who released his contract news today.
The longer the 28-year-old Barrett, who has played 73 tests, leaves it to confirm his intentions, the more likely it is that he will be joining the Blues because he will be aware any impending move will serve as a potential distraction to the Hurricanes, who play Leon MacDonald’s side in Wellington on Saturday, and have already qualified for a home quarter-final.
Confirmation of his exit would be a huge blow to a franchise who won their maiden championship in 2016.
Asked for comment, Blues chief executive Michael Redman sent the Herald a one-line statement which said: “Our policy remains unchanged that we never comment on speculation around player or staff recruitment.”
The Blues have sought a quality No10 for many years, but for various reasons have either failed to recruit one – Barrett, Dan Carter and even former England international Jonny Wilkinson have turned them down – or develop their own. It is the one major reason why they haven’t won a Super Rugby title since 2003.
A complicating factor is that even if he does move north, Barrett won’t play for the Blues until 2021 because he is planning to take a sabbatical next year. That could involve playing in Japan or Europe, or simply taking some time off.
Late last year reports emerged out of France that clubs were willing to pay upwards of $2 million a year to lure Barrett to Europe.
The Blues, who have missed out on the Super Rugby playoffs for the eighth straight season, currently have three first-five options – Otere Black, Harry Plummer and Stephen Perofeta.
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Last month, Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree told Radio Sport’s D’Arcy Waldegrave his discussions with Barrett about his decision had been positive.
“First prize for us is that he stays at the Hurricanes in some capacity,” Plumtree said.
“There might be a sabbatical involved or he might decide to go and play overseas. The chats that I’ve had with him have all been pretty positive around playing for New Zealand Rugby and his future in New Zealand Rugby, so I think we can probably wait for the rest.”
Barrett recently told Radio Sport Breakfast he hoped to be able to announce his plans soon.
He said when re-signing with New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes in 2016: “I love playing for the All Blacks and representing my country in the black jersey and I’m loving my footy at the moment.
“The All Blacks are an incredibly special team to be part of and I’m looking forward to playing my role and adding my small part to the legacy over the next few years.
“As well, with the Hurricanes, we’ve built a great culture at the club and it’s an exciting time to be involved with a great bunch of guys and a quality coaching staff. Next year I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to help build on our success this year.
“I’m also a proud Taranaki man, proud of my roots and stoked to be recommitting to my home province.”
Barrett married long-time partner Hannah Laity on Rakino Island, near Auckland in January.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
4 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
4 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
4 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
4 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to comments