Battle Of The Barrett’s In Wellington

The Hurricanes host the Blues today at the Sky Stadium, Wellington @ 09:05 SA Time. The Blues have won their last two Super Rugby games in a row against the Hurricanes including a win in round one of the 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa competition (30-20).

The Hurricanes come off a win against the Highlanders (17-11) last weekend while with 20 minutes left on the clock against the Crusaders in Christchurch last week, it still looked like the Blues were going to be the only unbeaten team left in Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa. The Crusaders turned on the afterburners and won 26-15.

The loss left the Blues in the second spot on the ladder, six points less than the Crusaders while the Hurricanes' win over the Highlanders moved them in the third spot on the log.

The Hurricanes set-piece attack has been on fire in Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa. Normally renowned for their electric counterattack and opportunism out wide, the Hurricanes have scored five tries following a put-in to their own scrum this season. That is more than all the other New Zealand teams combined.

Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa points aren’t the only thing on the line at Sky Stadium this Saturday. So too is bragging rights at the Barrett family Christmas lunch with brothers Beauden and Jordie squaring off in the 15 jersey for the first time in their career. The Hurricanes have won two on the trot since Jordie returned from injury in round four while Beauden’s talents need no introducing. The stage is set for an intriguing head-to-head battle between the talent siblings.

Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland has made three changes to the team.

Dane Coles returns from injury to start, with only two other changes been made to the XV which beat the Highlanders last Sunday. Jackson Garden-Bachop gets back the number 10 jersey from Fletcher Smith and Peter Umaga-Jensen makes a return to the mid-field.

Head coach, Jason Holland says after a slow start to the competition, momentum is building. “We can’t wait to get back out there in front of our home fans again. They have recovered well and are looking forward to the physical challenge “

Very little change has been made to the bench, but Fraser Armstrong comes back into the fold after sitting out for a week due to a knee injury.

Holland believes having depth is vital. “It’s going to take 80 minutes to get the result and the bench can be the difference in these derbies.”

The Hurricanes: 1. Ben May, 2. Dane Coles [cc], 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Scott Scrafton, 6. Reed Prinsep, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara [cc], 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14. Kobus Van Wyk, 15. Jordie Barrett. Replacements: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Fraser Armstrong, 18. Alex Fidow, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Vaea Fifita, 21. Jamie Booth, 22. Billy Proctor, 23. Wes Goosen.

The Blues selected a largely unchanged line-up to start the second half of Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

Coach Leon MacDonald made only three changes this week with Kurt Eklund and Aaron Carroll replacing the injured pair of James Parsons and Blake Gibson in the pack, while Emoni Narawa comes in for an unavailable Caleb Clarke on the wing.

The debut for 141-game Super Rugby veteran Dan Carter is on hold with the team taking the precaution to replace him on the bench after he was hampered with a minor calf twinge at training. His place in the reserves is taken by Matt Duffie while lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, back from injury, will celebrate his 50th game for the Blues.

Coach Leon MacDonald believes the side has taken plenty of positives from last week’s loss to the Crusaders into their clash with the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

“We did a lot of very good things at the set phase and the collision area, and we produced some important front-foot ball. Hopefully, the boys can take confidence from those positives into what will be another big battle this week,” said MacDonald.

“The Hurricanes are playing well and are renowned for their physical rush defence which we will need to counter.

“The nature of this competition means there will be injuries but that also represents opportunities for other players in the squad who have been working hard for their opportunity. Kurt and Aaron were both excellent when they came on last week, and Emoni has trained impressively in recent weeks to earn his chance.

“We have resisted any significant change in the backs. We are pleased with how Harry Plummer is performing, while we believe Otere at flyhalf and Beauden at fullback is our best option at present as they combine well.”

Blues: 1. Alex Hodgman, 2. Kurt Eklund, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Josh Goodhue, 6. Aaron Carroll, 7. Dalton Papalii, 8. Akira Ioane, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Otere Black, 11. Mark Telea, 12. Harry Plummer, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Beauden Barrett. Reserves: 16. Tolai Luteru, 17. Marcel Renata, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20. Tony Lamborn, 21. Jonathan Ruru, 22. TJ Faiane, 23. Matt Duffie.

Opta Facts.

The Blues have won their last two Super Rugby games on the bounce against the Hurricanes; the last time they won more in succession against them was an eight-game streak in their first eight meetings in the competition from 1996 to 2003.

Three of the last four Super Rugby games when the Hurricanes have hosted the Blues have been won by the team trailing at half-time on the day, with the Hurricanes picking up three wins in that span. 

Six of the Hurricanes’ last eight Super Rugby games against fellow New Zealand opposition have been decided by a single-point margin on the day, including wins by seven and six points in their last two fixtures in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

The Hurricanes have scored five tries on possession begun with a scrum win on their own feed this Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign, more than all other teams combined via this method.

Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) has made 40 carries and 42 tackles throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa; he is the only player to have registered 40+ in both categories.