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The 'pretty critical' absences with no like-for-like replacements that could haunt the Hurricanes
When the Hurricanes made back to back finals appearance in Super Rugby, it was on the back of some exceptional performances from the halves pairing of TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett.
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That’s not to downplay the work of the other squad members, but no two players were more important to the Hurricanes’ fortunes in 2015 and 2016 then All Blacks Perenara and Barrett.
Last year, following Barrett’s switch to the Blues, the Hurricanes trialled both Jackson Garden-Bachop and Fletcher Smith in the key playmaker jersey.
While Garden-Bachop made a good fist of things in the No 10 jersey, he certainly didn’t provide the X-factor, control or poise that two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Barrett offered. Garden-Bachop will again be tasked with leading the side at flyhalf this year while former Blues and Edinburgh pivot Simon Hickey has also joined the cause at the capital – but both players are still a far cry from Barrett, who will spend the season in Japan.
2020 was tough at times for the Hurricanes without Barrett running the cutter but they were still able to depend on Perenara to guide the backline around. Things will get a little tougher in 2021, with the second-most capped halfback in Super Rugby history also heading to Japan for a one-off season in the Top League.
Manawatu’s Jamie Booth backed-up Perenara last year and was turning heads with some impressive performances off the bench, but a leg injury suffered during the Mitre 10 Cup season means that Booth won’t be sighted until late in the Hurricanes’ campaign.
Instead, the 2016 champions will depend on inexperienced options Luke Campbell and Jonathan Taumateine.
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All in all, it’s hard to predict what to expect from the Hurricanes halves pairing in 2021, which could be an Achilles Heel in a side that boasts plenty of depth in other positions.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ The Conversation podcast, head coach Jason Holland acknowledged that replacing Barrett and Perenara will be an ongoing challenge for the team.
“Obviously, [Barrett and Perenara play] two pretty critical positions in the game of footy,” said Holland. “When Beaudie went, everybody thought we were under the pump and you know, you work with the boys and grow confidence.
“Both our 10s this year, Jacko and Simon Hickey … I’m really confident in their ability to run a week and run a game plan and run a game. But it’s all about confidence and giving guys the answers to if we see this problem, this is how we’re going to fix it or this is how we’re going to play well, this is all you need to do.
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“So I think it’s really simplifying the game for these boys, the 9s and the 10s. But you know, we’ve got some pretty good boys, you’ve got your Nganis [Laumape] and you’ve got your Jordies [Barrett] and you’ve got your Ardies [Savea] around them. It’s an opportunity for these boys and I’m looking forward to seeing that there are some pretty good heads here that just need some time in the saddle.”
“I promise you I am better (at Japanese) than what I am presenting right now”#TopLeague2021https://t.co/KCeh7XagIT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 6, 2021
While the Hurricanes won’t be the only team fielding a relatively junior flyhalf in 2021, with the Chiefs likely to hand 21-year-old Kaleb Trask the duties once more, every other side in the competition boasts experienced halfbacks.
The Blues’ Sam Nock and Finlay Christie have played over 30 caps apiece while the Chiefs can call upon two All Blacks, Brad Weber and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi. Further south, the Crusaders’ pair of Bryn Hall and Mitch Drummond will both reach centurion status in 2021 – something that Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith achieved in 2017.
If the Hurricanes combo – whatever Holland fields – can control the game well, however, then the Hurricanes’ backs will be tough to contain, with the likes of Laumape, Barrett, Vince Aso, Peter Umaga-Jensen and Wes Goosen on the books.
The Hurricanes kick off their Super Rugby Aotearoa season against the Blues in Wellington in late February.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments