The Hurricanes rookie putting pressure on Jordie Barrett's fullback spot
Following his hat-trick against the Fijian Drua, Hurricanes assistant coach Cory Jane says rookie Josh Moorby has put Jordie Barrett under pressure to remain at fullback.
Moorby was a standout for the Hurricanes as the Wellington-based franchise pummelled the Drua 67-5 at Sky Stadium on Sunday to move to within three points of a top four spot.
In addition to his three tries, Moorby also bagged a try assist, ran the most metres (143) and made the most clean breaks (four) of any player in the match, and beat seven defenders to cap off a spellbinding attacking display in the Kiwi capital.
That effort is a continuation of the good form shown by the 23-year-old Southland fullback in his debut Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Afforded few starting opportunities this season given the might of the Hurricanes’ outside backs stocks – headlined by Barrett, Julian Savea, Salesi Rayasi, Ruben Love and Wes Goosen – Moorby has taken his chances with aplomb.
A try on debut against Moana Pasifika in March was followed by another try in just his second start, against the Crusaders, a fortnight later.
However, Moorby’s best performance of the year undoubtedly came against the Drua two days ago, leading Jane to suggest that the Hurricanes may look to play Barrett at second-five to accomodate for Moorby in the starting team.
“He’s been great. Ever since he came in here, he understands rugby, and that’s cool to get those guys who you can see it, but also his fitness, his anticipation for the game – he just doesn’t stay in one spot,” Jane said of Moorby on Tuesday.
“He likes to get involved and get around. He’s got an eye for the space and for the ball, and so he’s been good. Obviously he’s playing well at fullback, but he can play wing.
“We’ve got an All Black at fullback, too, that he’s pressuring. I think Jordie was inside before starting to sweat,” Jane joked, “but it’s good, actually, to see Moorbs get out there and play well. It’s his first time in here and he’s had a great season so far.
“I think it’s handy. When Jordie played those few games at 12, he just brought a different mindset to us. He’s quite physical, and having a guy that can jump at the fullback spot and do well kind of gives us opportunities to play Jordie at 12.
“Obviously he’s still a pretty good fullback as well, so we don’t want to take that away from him, but it does give us options.”
As Jane alluded to, Moorby is as adept at fullback as he is on the wing, just as Barrett offers plenty both at fullback and second-five, which is where has played three times this season.
It’s for that reason that Moorby is happy to play wherever the Hurricanes coaches see fit, but is optimistic about further starting opportunities as the season heads towards its business end.
“It’s up to them [the coaches] and I’ve just got to, hopefully, string together a few good performances and hopefully can get a few more starts,” Moorby said on Tuesday.
Ironically, Barrett has been a key figure in Moorby’s development as a Super Rugby Pacific player, and it may be that the 36-test All Black’s influence on the Hurricanes newbie could result in a move back into the midfield.
“He’s a great guy. Obviously, when you first come in, you watch them on TV and you know what they’re capable of, but Jordie, honestly, can’t speak anything badly about him,” Moorby said of Barrett.
“He’s been awesome. As soon as I’d come in the group, under his wing, and just learning from him has been great.”
Whether or not that positional switch will come to fruition in light of Moorby’s eye-catching form remains to be seen, although it may come as early as this weekend when the Hurricanes face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.
Jane acknowledged that the Waratahs have grown as the season has worn on, and that the Hurricanes will have to be on their game to prevent Darren Coleman’s side from notching a third consecutive win in the race for a top four finish.
“We can take what we did during the week because you train, you have a game plan, you try do it during the week so you can put it out there on the field. The boys have shown they can do that now,” Jane said.
“Obviously the Waratahs are completely different than the Drua in the way they’re playing, but we’ve got a big day of training today and again on Thursday.
“What we come in with a game plan, we’ve just got to try and execute it as best as possible because it is a different beast and the Waratahs are playing well this year and, over there, they’re quite hard, so it should be exciting.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments