Watch: Beauden Barrett's top 10 plays of the Super Rugby season
Back-to-back World Rugby Player of the Year Beauden Barrett had another top season with the Hurricanes in 2018, helping the side reach the semi-finals for the fourth season in a row. They fell just short of making their third final in four years, falling to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
With the Hurricanes now heading into their off-season, RugbyPass reviews Barrett’s top 10 plays of the season.
10. Scrambling exit kick vs Jaguares
What makes a world-class 10 is the extra effort plays, the decisions, and the one percenters.
This recovery play by Barrett against the Jaguares showed both extraordinary skill and execution, getting the Hurricanes out of a sticky situation. Scrambling back to cover a driving Jaguares kick off a turnover, Barrett picks up the ball on the bounce and looks to get a good position for a right-footed kick to the far touchline.
With Jaguares winger pressing, he quickly decelerates, swiveling on the spot before dropping it onto the left foot for a booming exit kick that finds touch on halfway on the other side.
To nail an exit kick off the wrong foot under pressure is a tremendous piece of play, and worthy of making this list of top 10 plays at number 10.
9. Kicking duel vs Chiefs
Over the past few seasons, Barrett’s out-of-hand kicking has become an integral part of the Hurricanes’ success.
His ability to dictate terms from the back has often led to territorial gains for his side and has also opened up counter-attacking opportunities. Here against the Chiefs at home was one of his best moments from the back.
Again off his unnatural left foot, Barrett drives a raking kick down to the Chiefs five, forcing Charlie Ngatai to clear with a bad angle. His return kick finds Barrett at the back with room to run, and he puts the foot down to swerve through the Chiefs defence. A last-ditch grubber fails to find Vince Aso and rolls over the sideline.
If this grubber kick had found the mark and led to a try this would be a lot higher on the list, but even so, the net gain for the Hurricanes put the Chiefs deep on their own line. Barrett won the kicking duel and created a scoring opportunity.
8. Spectator intercept vs Rebels
Barrett missed out on scoring this brilliant heads-up try against the Rebels due to a teammate’s previous indiscretion but that doesn’t stop it being a highly impressive piece of skill.
Defending at fullback, Barrett rushes up to take the last man as the defensive system dictates. Facing a two-on-one he reads Jack Maddocks and plays for the pass, getting a tip before reigning in the ball after a few bobbles. If not for advantage being played in the Rebels favour, this would’ve been one of Barrett’s best tries.
The intercept negated a promising Rebels opportunity, still providing some impact to his side.
7. Set-piece fun vs Sunwolves
A favourite play the Hurricanes run is to give Barrett a running opportunity with direct ball off the scrum. He has scored countless times from this setup, giving sliding defence headaches.
On this occasion, a sharp step off the left foot beats the covering halfback easily, before an offload in the tackle draws in two defenders. His pass finds Finlay Christie backing up on the inside who goes over for his first Super Rugby try. A smart piece of work by Barrett and one of his best assists of the year.
6. Beauden Barrett vs Sam Whitelock
It’s not often you see a 10 bump off one of the biggest men in the game which is why this explosive piece of contact from Barrett makes the list.
Sam Whitelock doesn’t usually come off second best, but Barrett’s slight late change of angle puts him in an awkward position. Barrett wins the collision and spins through another tackle attempt by Matt Todd. Whitelock was eventually removed from the field for an HIA, which he failed.
Fortunately, the inspirational Crusader recovered from his concussion injury to help lead the Crusaders all the way to the Super Rugby final.
5. Pin-point defensive bomb vs. Rebels
One new aspect of the Hurricanes gameplan and Barrett’s game by extension was the defensive bomb.
An addition to the variety of exit strategies was the newly implemented tactic. The kick has a similar net gain to a box kick, with a contestable ball for the openside winger. In Round 7 against the Rebels, Barrett hoisted one in the air that came down millimetres inside the touchline, bouncing fortuitously for winger Ben Lam.
Whilst there was a significant amount of good fortune on this play, it was still stunning nonetheless.
4. Barrett’s Tekkers against the Highlanders
Barrett’s knack of anticipating the bounce of the ball is almost superhuman. His ability to pull off a big play against the run of play was on show again against the Highlanders at home in a derby clash.
A short grubber by Rob Thompson was toed ahead again by Ben Smith. Barrett, racing up from fullback, blocks Smith’s kick with an outstretched left foot before kicking it upward with his right foot before it hits the ground. The ball floats up perfectly into his grasp and he snatches it, swerves around Aaron Smith and heads the other way for the first try of the match in an outstanding play.
3. Scoop’n’score vs. the Chiefs
Another opportunist try came against the Chiefs in the home derby at a critical point in the match, with the Hurricanes holding a slim 10-6 lead.
Ben Lam does a great job of forcing a loose pass from Sean Wainui in the tackle. The loose ball is scooped up by a flying Barrett from around his ankles at full speed. With Brodie Retallick closing down on him with the better angle, he puts the ball ahead with a grubber kick before just beating him to the chase with a diving finish.
An incredible turn of play with a range of top-level skills on show by Barrett.
2. Quick lineout NFL style
This stunning NFL-style heave from a quick lineout led to a massive Hurricanes line break.
Barrett grabs the ball and restarts play quickly with a massive one-handed quarterback throw, finding Ben Lam in the middle of the field who breaks a tackle and heads off downfield. The movement ends when Jordie Barrett is tackled inside the 22 by a brilliant cover tackle by Solomon Alaimalo, saving a try.
The massive swing in momentum occurred directly after a Chiefs break down the left-hand side which was only nullified by Barrett getting enough contact on Solomon Alaimalo to put him into touch.
Barrett showed once again you can never let your guard down when he is on the field.
1. Freakish juggling intercept and flick pass vs the Blues
Barrett’s top play of the Super Rugby 2018 season has to be this ridiculous intercept and flick pass against the Blues in Round 17.
From 20-metres away, Barrett sprints off the line to grab this cutout pass from the top of the lineout. He manages to get a fingertip underneath to propel it upwards, before pulling it in. With eyes in the back of his head, he anticipates Ngani Laumape running underneath and flicks a no-look pass out the back to find him in full stride.
The superlatives have already been written about this play enough times over. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
81 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI 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.
13 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 comments