The British & Irish Lions Tour : Year 2017 – The Squad Review

Last Wednesday, the 19th April, the British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland, with his great assistants, unveiled their squad which will go to New Zealand. The much-awaited announcement has ended the speculation following a close Six Nations Championship.

Warren Gatland selected his squad of players with his assistants who will manage the players with him. Among these assistants, there are some world-class names such as Andy Farrell, the current Ireland defence coach who is working with Joe Schmidt.

Besides, there is in the coaching staff guys like Graham Rowntree, former England forwards coach. Steve Borthwick, who is working with Eddie Jones for England, Rob Howley, the Wales backs coach, and Neil Jenkins, the Wales kicking coach, are included.

Obviously, there were many controversies after the British & Irish Lions squad unveiling. The Rugby fans shared their opinions with some people stating that world-class players were ommitted while other people disagreed with some players selected.

Contrary to the British & Irish Lions Tour in Australia, four years ago, in 2013, Warren Gatland did not select 37 players. He decided to go for 41 players as the Wales coach stated that they will need all these players for this Tour in New Zealand which is tough.

The British & Irish Lions will play 10 games including 3 Test matches against New Zealand. They will also face the 5 Kiwi franchises playing in Super Rugby, the Maori All Blacks and a Provincial XV. Let’s review the exciting 2017 British & Irish Lions squad.

1. The Hooker Position : Dylan Hartley left out

Coach Warren Gatland, on Steve Borthwick’s advices, decided to select 3 hookers to play in New Zealand. First of all, the Ireland skipper Rory Best is part of the squad and so is Ken Owens. He has really impressed with his scrummaging disaply in the Six Nations.

Moreover, there is some room for Jamie George even if he is considered as Dylan Hartley’s understudy with England. Warren Gatland explained his choice, saying that Jamie George was providing more strength, more impact and more pace on the field.

It is fair to say that Dylan Hartley probably did not try his best to be part of the squad. He had many disciplinary issues in the past. He stated in an interview, just before the announcement, that he did not think that being a Lion would really define his career.

2. The Prop Position : England dominating

The British & Irish Lions coaching environment called 6 props on the New Zealand Tour. Among these 6 props, there are 4 England players : Dan Cole, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola. No surprise for Dan Cole as he is one of the most consistent players.

Joe Marler earns a call-up following a good campaign which ended in controversy during the Six Nations Championship in 2016. Then, Kyle Sinckler found his way in the squad thanks to a great impact from the bench for England in 2017, winning the turnovers.

Finally, Mako Vunipola deserves to be there as he is instrumental to his teams. The other two props included are from Ireland with Tadgh Furlong and Jack McGrath, the two Ireland front-rowers. The British & Irish Lions will have very good scrummagers.

3. The Second-Row Position : Versatility being key

About the second-row position, Warren Gatland called exactly 5 players with two players being named as potential cover for the back-row. These two player are the England rising star Maro Itoje and the Ireland colossus Ian Henderson, playing with Ulster Rugby.

Otherwise, the three other players starting exclusively in the second-row are Alun-Wyn Jones, George Kruis and Courtney Lawes. The Ospreys skipper Alun-Wyn Jones is also the Wales skipper while George Kruis has earned his place given his consistency since 2015.

Courtney Lawes will travel with the British & Irish Lions squad but according to the fans, it was a close call. In fact, many fans thought that his England teammate Joe Launchbury should have got the nod but in the same time, Courtney Lawes did the job brillantly.

4. The Back-Row Position : So much power

What has to be said about the back-row which has been selected is that there is the power to compete with the likes of Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Kieran Read. There are 8 players selected in the back-row with half of them being from Wales.

History shows that Wales always had world-class back-rowers, explaining why Taulupe Faletau, Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton are travelling. These four guys are outstanding on the field when it comes to the breakdown battle and the turnovers.

Besides, there are three Ireland back-rowers included in that squad with Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander. Finally, Billy Vunipola is selected and that is absolutely deserved considering his impact for the Saracens and England through the year 2017.

5. The Scrum-Half Position : World-Class

It would have been very difficult to select better players in the scrum-half position than Conor Murray, Rhys Webb and Ben Youngs. First of all, Conor Murray is probably the best scrum-half in the world about the kicking game and the kicking exit strategy.

Rhys Webb is a player who has got some real character and he has got the ability to direct a backline. Over the past few years, he has always been considered as the Wales No. 1 scrum-half despite very strong showings from his Scarlets rival Gareth Davies.

Finally, Ben Youngs did not need an introduction, to be honest. The guy is scoring astonishing tries from quick taps and can dis-organise a defence whenever he wants. Ben Youngs has got some pace and he is setting up great tries for England and Leicester.

6. The Fly-Half Position : Fierce Competition

As a very good British & Irish Lions manager, Warren Gatland did not hesitate in bringing the competition immediately for that 10 jersey. Selecting Owen Farrell and Jonathan Sexton, the fans highlighted that these two players were going to fight for it.

Nevertheless, a third man could play his part as well : The Wales fly-half Dan Biggar. Adding to the fact that Warren Gatland said that Owen Farrell could also play at inside centre, there are even more doubts about the player who will lead that talented backline.

Jonathan Sexton is probably the favourite given how strong his display was for Ireland against England in the 2017 Six Nations. He has backed up his performances for Leinster as well in the Pro12 league and in the Champions Cup competition play-offs games.

7. The Centre Position : Interesting Options

Similarly to the second-row position, Warren Gatland opted for versatility when he named the players selected in the centre position. There are 3 England players, 2 Ireland players and 1 Wales player who have been selected to form a successful partnership.

Warren Gatland called up Elliot Daly and Jonathan Joseph with Ben Te’o coming as a bit of a surprise but his power earned him a call. Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne are also included as their strong ball-carrying abilities will be a key for the British & Irish Lions.

Jonathan Davies is part of the centres in the squad with versatility proving a big factor. The England star Elliot Daly can play at wing and fullback if needed while Jared Payne is a strong defender. If needed, he could play fullback as well as he showed for Ulster, too.

8. The Wing Position : Pace and Talent

In fairness, the wings were probably the position on the field which was going to be the most competitive with second-row and back-row. There are 4 wingers who were called by Warren Gatland : George North, Jack Nowell, Tommy Seymour and Anthony Watson.

The Welsh winger George North retains his place in the squad thanks to his power that he can unleash from that wing. Following a fantastic campaign in Aviva Premiership with the Exeter Chiefs, Jack Nowell, who has a big workrate on the field, is included.

In 2017, the Glasgow Warriors made some statement as they qualified in the Champions Cup Quarter-Finals for the first time. Tommy Seymour was one of their best players while England winger Anthony Watson is a quick player with a great kicking display.

9. The Fullback Position : Pace and Experience

Plenty of combinations are available to Warren Gatland and his assistants as players selected as wingers can play at fullback while some of the fullbacks included can play at wing. Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams, both from Wales, have got that ability.

Leigh Halfpenny is selected given his defensive abilities while Liam Williams is picked after several stunning performances for the Scarlets. The other player included as a fullback is Scottish player Stuart Hogg who has been outstanding for Glasgow Warriors.

There are definitely a good balance between pace and experience in that fullback contingent. Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson have been tipped to start at fullback as well so Warren Gatland will certainly have a huge amount of options for the big games.

Conclusion

The British & Irish Lions squad for the 2017 Tour in New Zealand was unveiled by Warren Gatland last week. His assistants worked hard with him to make sure that the best players were picked to face New Zealand even if there were some controversies.

Some great players are missing out in the squad such as Dylan Hartley, Rob Evans, Joe Launchbury, James Haskell, Greg Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Jamie Roberts, Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Mike Brown. It shows how big the players’ pool is in these Islands.

Moreover, it will be a very tough tour with 10 games scheduled in New Zealand and there were some calls to reduce future British & Irish Lions Tour. That decision is supported by the Premiership and the RFU (Rugby Football Union) boss Ian Ritchie.

With the squad which is selected, it is important to highlight the fact that versatility was a key factor in the second-row, centre, wing and fullback era. Versatility has always been considered as really important and especially given the schedule which is coming soon.

For example, in the British & Irish Lions squad, two second-rows can play back-row as well, two centres can shift to fullback if needed while there are several players who can play both wing and fullback. It gives to Warren Gatland some really interesting options.

In conclusion, the British & Irish Lions have got a strong squad to compete with New Zealand. The first Test match against the World Champions will take place at Eden Park at the end of June. It is going to be a spectacular game considering what the occasion is.

Good Luck to all the Nations ! That should be great !

Max.

The Barrett Review : Super Rugby 2017 (Round 9 – Brumbies)

Super Rugby 2017 is reaching his first half of the season with the Crusaders, the only franchise unbeaten in this year’s competition. The Crusaders are facing the Stormers this weekend in Christchurch and it seems that they could extend their great unbeaten run.

Last weekend, the other two favourite New Zealand franchises kept the momentum. The Chiefs managed to win with the bonus point in Bloemfontein despite a huge performance from the Cheetahs. At Eden Park, there was an outstanding contest, really.

The Hurricanes and the Blues faced each other in a high intensity game. The defending Champions delivered towards the end of the game with second-row Mark Abbott scoring his second try. That was a very good performance from Tana Umaga’s players as well.

With Round 9 coming this weekend, the Hurricanes will face the Brumbies in McLean Park, Napier. The Hurricanes will not play at Westpac Stadium, Wellington as they have decided to play on Hawke’s Bay ground. That is always a great moment for the fans.

In the other games which will be played at the weekend, the Chiefs will continue their tour with a game against the Western Force. The Lions will host the Jaguares while there is a potential outstanding game with the Bulls and the Cheetahs playing in Pretoria.

The Crusaders will try and extend their unbeaten run against the Stormers who had a first defeat last weekend against the Lions. Last weekend, Wyatt Crockett became Super Rugby’s most capped player with 176 caps, one more cap than hooker Keven Mealamu.

Background Information :

The Hurricanes : Keeping delivering

The defending Champions had a great start to the season and that first-half of the season was pretty good. The Hurricanes only defeat came against the Chiefs in Hamilton. However, the Hurricanes won convincingly against the Rebels, Highlanders and Reds.

Obviously, the Wellington-based franchise has not forgotten that their last game against the Brumbies was terrible. It was during the Super Rugby 2016, in Round 1, in Canberra. That day, Chris Boyd and his players heavily lost (52-10) in what was a tough night.

The key for the Hurricanes was delivering one more time before the second bye. All the training camp, players and coaching staff, knew that the game was important. After the second bye, the Hurricanes will begin their tour in Australia and in South Africa, too.

The Brumbies : Showing their talent

Coming into that game, the Brumbies definitely wanted to show what they were capable of. Last weekend, the Wallabies franchise lost against their opponents Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne. Stephen Larkham had to re-focus his training group for that big game.

Since the beginning of the Super Rugby 2017, the Brumbies have recorded some good wins against the Western Force, the Waratahs and the Reds. Nevertheless, they lost some games against the Sharks and the Highlanders, both home games but it was very close.

In McLean Park, Napier, the Brumbies wanted to achieve a great performance because it was important to maintain the gap with the Waratahs. There is a good fight to top the Wallabies conference, with the first franchise of the conference hosting a Quarter-Final.

The Players To Watch :

The Hurricanes : Blade Thomson, Te Toira Tahuriorangi, Cory Jane

Blade Thomson : The Hurricanes back-rower gets an opportunity in McLean Park, Napier. Blade Thomson can play either at flanker and number 8 and he is a great powerful player. The defending Champions rely on him to carry the ball on the field.

Te Toira Tahuriorangi : The promising scrum-half from Taranaki will combine with the Hurricanes’ talents against the Brumbies. His kicking game is strong and he also reads well the game. Te Toira Tahuriorangi has got the ability to add pace to the game as well.

Cory Jane : The All Blacks winger Cory Jane comes back to the starting lineup to add some defensive edge to the Hurricanes backline. His offloading skills remain an integral part of the gameplan as well and he is part of these leaders who are playing on the field.

The Brumbies : Scott Fardy, Wharenui Hawera, Aidan Toua

Scott Fardy : The Wallabies flanker is one of the best players of the world. World-Class flanker, Scott Fardy is very strong at the breakdown and he is winning a lot of turnovers. The coach Stephen Larkham is relying on him to lead the team against the opponents.

Wharenui Hawera : Very talented player, Wharenui Hawera is from New Zealand and has previously played with Southland in the Mitre 10 Cup. He is a playmaker and leads well the backline all around the park and his territory game is also very effective.

Aidan Toua : The Brumbies fullback is a running theat on the pitch. He is outstanding when it comes to counter-attacking from his own half. Aidan Toua is one of the most gifted and consistent players for the Brumbies since the start of the Super Rugby season.

Team News : Some re-shuffle from Chris Boyd

Following the game against the Blues, the Hurricanes knew that they had to fight for that win. The coach Chris Boyd and the assistant coach John Plumtree were satisfied because it was the first time of the season that the Hurricanes had to come from behind to win.

The training camp wanted a quick re-focus before that game against the Brumbies and Chris Boyd stated that it was a new opportunity for other players to get some game time. The Hurricanes coaching staff confirmed that the rotation policy was key to success.

Chris Boyd said to the media, a few weeks ago, that the Hurricanes would need between 30 players and 35 players in the race to the Super Rugby Title. On Wednesday morning, Chris Boyd unveiled his starting XV to play against the Brumbies with some re-shuffling.

First of all, the front-row remained unchanged with Dane Coles still rested. Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli and Jefferey Toomanga-Allen were named in the front-row. In the second-row, there was a new partnership with Mark Abbott and Vaea Fifita combining together.

About the back-row, Ardie Savea switched from number 8 to flanker with Brad Shields with the other flanker. Blade Thomson returned to the number 8 position. Te Toira Tahuriorangi started at scrum-half with Beauden Barrett, named at first-five eighth.

In the centre positions, the same partnership who started the Blues game was retained. Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso retained their respective jersey. On the wings, Julian Savea and Cory Jane started while Jordie Barrett returned to the fullback position.

To finish with, on the bench, Mike Kainga, Leni Apisai and Chris Eves started there. James Blackwell and Callum Gibbins covered second-row and back-row. In the backs, TJ Perenara, Otere Black and Ben Lam were named, Ben Lam targeting his first cap.

Game Summary : The Hurricanes taking their time

The contest between the Hurricanes and the Brumbies was played in McLean Park, Napier. Usually, that pitch is used by Hawke’s Bay in the Mitre 10 Cup. The game was referred by New Zealander official Brendon Pickerill with Glen Jackson, his assistant.

In the first-half, the Hurricanes started strongly and scored two tries in the opening quarter. Building pressure, the defending Champions got a ball gathered by the back-three in the half-way line. The Brumbies had to kick to release that big pressure, there.

Going with ball in hand, Beauden Barrett made a reverse pass to centre Vince Aso. The Hurricanes player managed to find a gap in the Brumbies defence and beat a couple of defenders. He raced to the try line and scored that first try before another build-up.

With the defending Champions coming back quickly in the Brumbies’ 22-metre zone, the forwards were carrying well and Beauden Barrett got the ball and made a cross-field kick. On the right wing, the ball was taken by Cory Jane who dove over the try line.

Just after that, the Hurricanes started to miss a few tackles with winger Henry Speight making ground. From a lineout, the Wallaby franchise combined with prop Nic Mayhew throwing the offload to Tevita Kuridrani. The Brumbies had their first try of the game.

Applying a good pressure, there was a swing in the momentum with Stephen Larkham’s players going for a driving maul near the Hurricanes’ try line. After some good phases of play, second-row Sam Carter was on the scoreboard and it was all square in Napier.

It was not enough for the Brumbies as the backline managed to find space just after the re-start. Following outstanding offloads, scrum-half Joel Powell got the ball and scored under the posts. The Brumbies were leading for the first time with a 7-point margin.

The Hurricanes tried to bounce back immediately in the last 10 minutes of the first-half. However, that was not good enough and the Brumbies still had the advantage with coach Chris Boyd giving a rousing speech in the sheds with John Plumtree (Half-Time : 7-14).

With the second half starting, the defending Champions re-focused quickly and trusted their skills to come back in the Brumbies’ danger zone. Referee Brendon Pickerill yellow-carded Wharenui Hawera for kicking the ball away in a ruck at the 42nd minute.

Taking the opportunity, the Hurricanes had a good platform thanks to their scrum. First-five eighth Beauden Barrett gathered the ball and waited to deliver the pass to Vince Aso. The centre was in for his second try of the night with the scored tied for the second time.

Six minutes later, playing the 52nd minute, the Hurricanes threw the ball out wide to find gaps in the Brumbies defence. Once again, playmaker Beauden Barrett delivered a cross-field kick with Vince Aso finally scoring the Hat-Trick after a Blade Thomson’s pass.

As they wanted the bonus point, the Hurricanes kept pushing with the Brumbies unable to retain the possession. Wharenui Hawera tried the chip and chase but flanker Callum Gibbins was careful. He charged the kick down and re-gathered to score another try.

Very confident, the defending Champions came back in their opponents’ half all over again. With TJ Perenara, the game was played at a high tempo and he had an assist when he passed the ball to second-row Mark Abbott who touched down in front of his public.

The Hurricanes had the bonus point but it was important to defend it against a Brumbies side who had got the quality to counter-attack. In the last 10 minutes of the game, the Hurricanes scored two final tries to put even more damage on the scoreboard, then.

First of all, flanker Callum Gibbins had his brace after a good effort from the forwards pack when they built a maul. Finally, Beauden Barrett had his last say on the game with another cross-field kick with centre Ngani Laumape collecting the ball to score the try.

All of the 8 tries from the Hurricanes were converted including 7 conversions from Jordie Barrett and 1 conversion from Otere Black. The fans in Napier were very happy with the result but the Hurricanes faced some really good opponents (Full Time : 56-21).

The Barrett Review : On another planet

Kicks : N/A – Beauden Barrett is not kicking again as a rib strain seems to be the cause but he could kick again very soon. Jordie Barrett is doing the goalkicking duties at the moment but Beauden Barrett could go back to this role following the bye weekend.

General Play : Game after game, that is always the same joy to watch him play. Against the Brumbies, he made 4 assists including 2 cross-field kicks. Beauden Barrett also made a chip and chase, tackled very well, was a running threat and had a good territory game.

Conclusion : That is a deserved bye for Beauden Barrett and the Hurricanes, players and coaching staff. All was not perfect against the Brumbies so they will have a couple of weeks to keep improving before hosting the Stormers at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

Have a good rest, Beaudy ! Deserved !

Max.

The Barrett Review : Super Rugby 2017 (Round 8 – Blues)

Super Rugby is reaching the first half of the season with the Round 8 set to be played in the Southern Hemisphere. Before the weekend and these games part of the Round 8, only two franchises were still unbeaten in the competition : the Crusaders and the Stormers.

Prior to Round 7, the Chiefs were also unbeaten in Super Rugby but it came to an end in Cape Town. The Waikato franchise was unable to match the Stormers’ physicality in a high tempo game. The Crusaders had a bye weekend and will face the Sunwolves.

In the other game of the Round 7, the Hurricanes won a controversial game against the Waratahs while the Brumbies made a statement against the Queensland Reds in GIO Stadium, Canberra. The Western Force and the Southern Kings battled in a thriller.

On Sunday, just after that outstanding game in Perth between these two franchises, the Sanzaar issued a statement. They announced in that statement that the Super Rugby competition will come back to 15 franchises in 2018, with three Super franchises cut.

The announcement was taken with anger by South Africa, who will lose two franchises, and Australia, who will have to cut a franchise. Melbourne Rebels and Western Force will fight to remain and they already have launched legal actions against the board.

About the Round 8, there are some interesting games in the Southern Hemisphere. The Hurricanes will face the Blues at Eden Park while the Stormers will host the Lions. Also, the Bulls will have to bounce back against the Jaguares at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.

Background Information :

The Blues : Not far from the top level

Every Super Rugby season, the Blues are not far from the top level with Tana Umaga doing a great job for his second year in charge. In the first games of the season, the Blues were very close from upsets against Kiwi franchises (Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders).

Last weekend, against the Highlanders, the Blues started very well the game before not managing well the scoreboard in the second-half. The Auckland Blues have got quality players such as Piers Francis even if he is going to Northampton Saints after the season.

One of the major assetts for the Blues team is the forwards pack. They are very powerful as many All Blacks players are doing the job. Obviously, the backline is very talented as well so they can be very dangerous when the team is playing at his best on the pitch.

The Hurricanes : Complete re-focus needed

The defending Champions started the season brillantly with two big wins against the Sunwolves and the Melbourne Rebels before a loss against the Chiefs. The next three games were more satisfying with wins against Highlanders, Reds and Waratahs, then.

Nevertheless, some big questions were raised last weekend when the Hurricanes had a great first-half at Westpac Stadium before losing their focus in the second-half. The Waratahs almost made a great comeback but the Hurricanes hung up to the big win.

It was not a bonus point win for Chris Boyd’s men and by the way, they finished the game with 14 players on the field. Beauden Barrett was red-carded because he made two deliberate knock-ons. Referee Marius Van der Westhuizen gave him two yellow cards.

The Players To Watch :

The Blues : Charlie Faumuina, Sonny Bill Williams, Matt Duffie

Charlie Faumuina : Outstanding scrummager, Charlie Faumuina has always delivered when he is playing with the Blues. He has got a good strength in his ball-carrying and is very helpful at lineout time. Charlie Faumuina has got a good influence on the pitch.

Sonny Bill Williams : The gifted centre possesses an outstanding range of skills including the off-loading game. Sonny Bill Williams is committed in defence with great tackles made. He is putting the team first and he tries to put his teammates into the space.

Matt Duffie : Very young player, Matt Duffie is coming from rugby league like Ngani Laumape for the Hurricanes. His positionning on the field is very clever and he has got the skills to catch the high balls. His kicking game allows the Blues to score tries as well.

The Hurricanes : Ben May, Mark Abbott, Beauden Barrett

Ben May: The Hurricanes prop gets an opportunity to impress for the Hurricanes. Very clever player, Ben May has got this ability to slow the tempo when it is needed. His scrummaging is great and he is combining very well with his teammates on the pitch.

Mark Abbott : Mark Abbott is a key player in the Hurricanes set-up. His partnership with Michael Fatialofa works so well and the impact that he is making on the field cannot be denied. He is a threat around the park and his work at the breakdown is just valuable.

Beauden Barrett : The Hurricanes first-five eighth has found his try-scoring form in the 2017 competition. The playmaker is currently at his best but has to be careful with the discipline. He has already received two yellow cards in the Super Rugby competition.

Team News : Beauden Barrett escapes a ban

After the Waratahs game, the win was not the sweetest for the Hurricanes coaching staff. The team missed the bonus point try and Beauden Barrett was red carded. Shortly after the end of the game, Chris Boyd and John Plumtree were quick to provide an update.

The Hurricanes coaches were on the phone to know if the red card would mean a ban. They were confident that the playmaker would be cleared. Chris Boyd was right as the Sanzaar, following a hearing, decided that no further sanction was required in the case.

In the camp, the assistant coach John Plumtree stated that Julian Savea was going to come back after a resting week while Dane Coles and Vaea Fifita were not too far. On Wednesday morning, Chris Boyd named his starting XV to face the Blues at Eden Park.

First of all, Dane Coles was still rested so Ricky Riccitelli started while Ben May and Jefferey Toomaga-Allen retained the jerseys at prop. In the second-row, Michael Fatialofa and Mark Abbott were partnered and wanted to make a big impact from the start.

About the back-row, there was one change with Brad Shields, Callum Gibbins combining with Ardie Savea, coming back. The half-backs pairing was well-known as scrum-half TJ Perenara led the great backline with his first-five eighth teammate Beauden Barrett.

Moreover, in the centres, Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso were partnered with Matt Proctor unavailable due to concussion. Julian Savea returned to a wing with Wes Goosen retaining his jersey. In the fullback position, Jordie Barrett started with the 15 jersey.

On the bench, plenty of power was there with Ben May, Mike Kainga and hooker Leni Apisai. Vaea Fifita started the game on the bench while Reed Prinsep covered the back-row. Te Toira Tahuriorangi, Otere Black and Cory Jane were also on the bench.

Game Summary : Outstanding contest in Auckland

The Super Rugby game between the two franchises was played at Eden Park in perfect weather conditions. The contest was referred by Mike Fraser, a very consistent referee, and managed the game well because he played the advantage when it was possible.

In a very physical and a high tempo game, the Hurricanes applied pressure immediately on the Blues from the kick-off. The Hurricanes forwards took their responsibility and carried the ball forward. The backline started to move well but were finding their feet.

Only 3 minutes into that game, the defending Champions built strongly and second-row Mark Abbott dove over the whitewash. On the re-start, the winger Wes Goosen lost the ball and Melani Nanai picked it up to throw the offload to Augustine Pulu for the try.

The Blues and the Hurricanes were at the top of their game with the Blues retaining some ball. The Hurricanes trusted their set-piece to launch their attacking combinations. Beauden Barrett found space in the defence and made an assist to Ngani Laumape.

Fullback Jordie Barrett was okay with his second conversion but once again, the Blues found a way back. Going on the right wing, back-rower Steven Luatua waited for his support and threw the offload to winger Melani Nanai who scored in the right corner.

Obviously, the two franchises were tied for a second time in the encounter. The Blues were building nicely but there was some confusion in the lineout. Centre Sonny Bill Williams could not hold on to the ball and Beauden Barrett raced to the Blues try line.

Couple of minutes later, Sonny Bill Williams got the ball with Rieko Ioane helping him. The Blues superstar rushed in the Hurricanes’ 22-metre zone and Mike Fraser yellow-carded Beauden Barrett. The playmaker was guilty of another deliberate knock-on.

The Hurricanes defended really well when their playmaker was on the sin-bin. Scrum-half TJ Perenara re-organised the forwards pack and brought some order. Despite some strong pressure from flanker Jerome Kaino, the Hurricanes had a 7-point margin.

In the second-half, the Hurricanes had to defend that converted try (Half-Time : 14-21). The game became a bit scrappy in the first quarter of the second-half. The defending Champions were under pressure and particularly the young winger, Wes Goosen.

Tana Umaga’s side made many phases of play in the Hurricanes’ half and they got a reward in the 54th minute. Warren Gatland’s son, Bryn Gatland, making his Super Rugby debut, landed a good penalty kick in front of the posts to close that gap to four points.

Also, 10 minutes later, the Blues forwards pack was in great form and second-row Scott Scrafton was on the scoreboad. The Auckland Blues were in front by 3 points and the Hurricanes launched the fightback with Beauden Barrett holding the key in that game.

The All Blacks first-five eighth made a little chip over the Blues defence that he re-gathered. The Hurricanes players build 16 phases when Beauden Barrett made a cross-field kick. Leni Apisai gathered the ball with Mark Abbott picking it to score his double.

Finally, the Hurricanes managed to hold on in defence to win that outstanding game. The Blues were very close to get the win at Eden Park but the defending Champions stayed composed. That is a valuable win for the Hurricanes players and staff (Full Time : 24-28).

The Barrett Review : Ultimate Brillance and Indiscipline

Kicks : N/A – That was the 3rd Super Rugby game of the season where Beauden Barrett gave the kicking duties to his Brother Jordie Barrett. The Hurricanes camp did not give information about his rib strain but Beauden Barrett seemed to be absolutely fine.

General Play : Beauden Barrett was involved in three tries, making an assist and scoring a try. His kicking game was great with a cross-field kick and a good territory game. Beauden Barrett ran 170 metres but he also received a 3rd yellow card in the season.

Conclusion : Beauden Barrett maintained the standards against the Blues and it was his best performance of the season. It is unknown at this stage if he will come back soon to the goalkicking duties. He will have the desire to deliver against the Brumbies next week.

Great game, Beaudy ! At your very best !

Max.

The Barrett Review : Super Rugby 2017 (Round 7 – New South Wales Waratahs)

Super Rugby is going on in the Southern Hemisphere and Round 7 is already coming for the 18 franchises chasing a play-offs spot at the end of the regular season. Last weekend, we have witnessed some statements made on the field by the New Zealand franchises.

First of all, the Hurricanes managed to win with a bonus point against the Queensland Reds. That was not an easy game at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Nevertheless, in such a spectacular game, the defending Champions kept the composure to win in great fashion.

Also, the Crusaders are still unbeaten in this 2017 Super Rugby competition. Despite a tough appointment in Sydney against the Wartahs, the Christchurch-based franchise delivered. They produced some brillant rugby and finally won with a big bonus point.

In other contests, the Auckland Blues and the Highlanders respectively won against the Western Force and the Melbourne Rebels. The Bulls did themselves proud against the Chiefs as they pushed them even though the Chiefs won and also took the five points.

There were some outstanding games throughout the Round 6. What about that game in Johannesburg between the Lions and the Sharks. That was Rugby at his very best with the Lions clinching the win against the Sharks who were not far from winning the game.

With Round 7, it is going to be even more competitive for all the franchises. After a bye weekend, the Jaguares are coming back to the competition. The Chiefs will face the Stormers in Cape Town while the Hurricanes will host the Waratahs at Westpac Stadium.

Background Information :

The Hurricanes : Building on a tough win

The defending Champions were coming into this game with the Waratahs with some confidence. They played 5 games so far this season including 4 wins with bonus points. Their only defeat was against the Chiefs in Round 3 when they faced them in Hamilton.

Last weekend, the Hurricanes won in Brisbane against the Queensland Reds. The Wellington-based franchise had to fight for the win as the task was not made easy. The Hurricanes conceded many penalties in that game with Ngani Laumape yellow-carded.

Before that Round 7 game, the Hurricanes wanted to fix that period in Brisbane when they conceded two tries in the space of 5 minutes. The key was applying defensive pressure as the defending Champions missed many tackles against the Queensland Reds.

The Waratahs : Trying to bounce back

Super Rugby Champions in 2014, the Waratahs did not find their best form yet in the competition. The Waratahs have lost some games this season against the Brumbies, the Lions and the Crusaders. They had a close win against the Western Force in Round 1.

However, they were in a difficult position a few weeks ago against the Melbourne Rebels. Trailing at Half-Time, they managed to come back and win that game. It showed that the Wallaby franchise has got some talent and they can be very dangerous on the pitch.

Following that defeat against the Crusaders, the Waratahs wanted to make amends and put in a big performance. Coach Daryl Gibson has got a big forward pack at his disposal and he knew that his team would be able to perform if they reduced their errors count.

The Players To Watch :

The Hurricanes : Reed Prinsep, Wes Goosen, Cory Jane

Reed Prinsep : The powerful back-rower had some good game time at the start of the season. Reed Prinsep had to seat on the bench after but he gets an opportunity this weekend. He is working hard at scrum time, his carries are good and so are his tackles.

Wes Goosen : Having the ability to play either at centre, either at wing, Wes Goosen scored a try in Round 1. He is a very clever player and has got a genuine pace. Wes Goosen can beat easily the defenders and his footwork allows him to score many tries.

Cory Jane : After a disappointing start to his season, Cory Jane will play his first game of the Super Rugby season. Part of the Hurricanes defensive set-up, Cory Jane reads well the game, especially in defence. He is great under the high ball and can offload as well.

The Waratahs : Sekope Kepu, Bernard Foley, Israel Folau

Sekope Kepu : Powerful scrummager, Sekope Kepu is doing a great job at scrum time for the Waratahs. He is also a ball-carrying option and he gets a lot of turnovers at the breakdown. He is essential to the Waratahs pack and his leadership is also very useful.

Bernard Foley : The Wallabies playmaker is also back to the action this weekend. Reading the game well, he is an attacking player who wants to find space for his teammates. His kicking game is not bad at all and he has got consistency, which is key.

Israel Folau : Rather a fullback, Israel Folau is starting to switch at centre. Gifted player, Israel Folau has got the pace and the playmaking skills to score tries and create them. Israel Folau is breaking a lot of tackles as well as he is very powerful with ball in hand.

Team News : Chris Boyd making some changes

Following the Queensland Reds game, the Hurricanes were pretty satisfied with the result. However, the coaching staff were disappointed as Ardie Savea picked up an injury towards the end of the game and the training camp stressed that it was “not serious”.

In the build-up to that game, coach Chris Boyd was happy to announce that some key players could come back to face the Waratahs. The players who were ready for a return were Dane Coles, the Captain, Vaea Fifita, the second-row, and Cory Jane, the winger.

Finally, on Wednesday morning, Chris Boyd unveiled, with his assistant John Plumtree, the starting XV to face the Wallaby franchise on Friday. There were four changes in the starting XV compared to the one which did the job a week earlier against the Reds.

To start with, Ben May got an opportunity in place of Chris Eves. Jefferey Toomanga-Allen was the other prop while Ricky Riccitelli remained at hooker. Chris Boyd said that Dane Coles was rested again as they did not want to take any risks with their Captain.

In the second-row, Michael Fatialofa and Mark Abbott combined once again. In the back-row, Reed Prinsep came in at number 8 in place of Ardie Savea. In the flanker positions, Brad Shields and Callum Gibbins retained their jersey and partnered Reed Prinsep.

The backline showed two changes but the half-backs pairing remained the same. TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett started with Ngani Laumape and Matt Proctor, starting at centre. The two changes in the backline were made in the back-three of the franchise.

Winger Julian Savea was given a rest for that game so Wes Goosen had an opportunity. On the other wing, Vince Aso was replaced by Cory Jane, making his comeback. To finish with, in the fullback position, Jordie Barrett retained his place after good performances.

On the bench, Chris Eves and Mike Kainga were selected with Leni Apisai. Second-row Vaea Fifita started the game on the bench while Toa Halafihi covered the back-row. In the backs, there was room for Te Toira Tahuriorangi, Otere Black and Vince Aso.

Game Summary : A night to remember

It was the Retro Night at Westpac Stadium on Friday night with the Hurricanes paying tribute to their former legendary players. The Waratahs were coming into this game highly motivated and that game proved to be an entertaining contest in Wellington.

The Hurricanes started strongly and scored the first try after a couple of minutes when Beauden Barrett’s run created an overlap on the left wing. Scrum-half TJ Perenara picked the ball and made the pass to centre Ngani Laumape who was on the scoreboard.

Very quickly, the Waratahs managed to get some possession but their build-up was not good enough. Try scorer Ngani Laumape intercepted a pass and ran straight through. Then, he managed to throw the offload for Beauden Barrett who scored the second try.

Shortly after that, the defending Champions were rushing back in the Waratahs’ 22-metre zone. The backline was in action once again and first-five eighth Beauden Barrett threw the offload for his younger brother. Jordie Barrett was in for the bonus point try.

However, the Waratahs had a big reaction with their forwards showing the way such as Dean Mumm and Will Skelton. Coming in the Hurricanes’ 22-metres, the Waratahs had a promising build-up until a deliberate knock-on from the playmaker Beauden Barrett.

Referee Marius Van der Westhuizen showed a yellow-card to the Hurricanes first-five eighth. The Waratahs made the most of the opportunity with flanker Ned Hanigan scoring from the quick-tap. The australian franchise was back into the great contest.

The Hurricanes managed to defend well during the 10-minute period before having a lineout opportunity when their first-five eighth came back. Getting a 5-metre scrum, the forwards did the job and Beauden Barrett made a second assist for winger Wes Goosen.

Winger Wes Goosen scored on the left wing before the defending Champions applied even more pressure on the Waratahs. Just before Half-Time, they lost a lineout and second-row Mark Abbott was very quick to react to score the 5th try (Half-Time : 33-7).

In the second-half, it is fair to say that the Hurricanes did not quite find the momentum. In the first 10 minutes of the second-half, the Waratahs scored two tries. First, Bryce Hegarty found a gap on a wing to score despite a try-saving tackle from Jordie Barrett.

Besides, a couple of minutes later, the Hurricanes were conceding too many penalties. The Waratahs scrum-half Jake Gordon read the game well and ran under the posts to score another try. The Waratahs were definitely back in the entertaining game (33-21).

Nevertheless, the defending Champions got some composure back. Playmaker Beauden Barrett was through a gap in the midfield before throwing another offload to the left wing. Centre Ngani Laumape was there to catch the ball and score a deserved brace.

The Waratahs kept pushing in the second-half until the last moments with Bernard Foley scoring a try, with the Waratahs only trailing by 10 points with 7 minutes to go. In the 78th minute, the Hurricanes were under pressure and the Waratahs still attacking.

Referee Marius Van der Westhuizen showed the red card to Beauden Barrett who was guilty of a second deliberate knock-on. It saved his team though even if the Hurricanes did not manage to get a bonus point in a curious night in Wellington (Full-Time : 38-28).

The Barrett Review : The Weirdest Performance Ever

Kicks : N/A : Just like last weekend, Beauden Barrett did not take the shots at goal. He still has got a little rib strain so Jordie Barrett took the goalkicking duties. Scrum-half TJ Perenara replaced him when he was off for a HIA (Head Injury Assessment) Protocol.

General Play : It was a weird performance because Beauden Barrett scored 1 try and made 3 assists. He kicked well, managed well and found gaps in the defence. However, he made two deliberate knock-ons and got two yellow cards, resulting in a red card.

Conclusion : That is a warning for Beauden Barrett from the discipline point of view. From the on-field performance point of view, it was the best game of his season. If he is not cleared by the disciplinary committee, he will have to seat the Blues game next week.

No blame, Beaudy ! You will come back stronger !

Max.

The Barrett Review : Super Rugby 2017 (Round 6 – Queensland Reds)

Super Rugby is going to the Round 6 this weekend following a bye last weekend for two of the favourites franchises to win the Title : the Hurricanes and the Chiefs. Both franchises are coming back on the field with respective games against Reds and Bulls.

In Round 5, there were some very good performances such as the Waratahs making a second-half comeback to win against the Melbourne Rebels. Also, the Auckland Blues managed to get back on track after a bonus point win against the Bulls from Pretoria.

Besides, the Super Rugby competition table is currently led by the Crusaders who are still unbeaten in that campaign in 2017. Last week, they started very well and did not need a comeback this time against the Western Force as the Crusaders won with a bonus point.

That is interesting to notice that, so far in the competition, a franchise from New Zealand is yet to lose a game against an overseas opponent. Looking at the results in the first Rounds, the New Zealand franchises’ only defeats were against other Kiwi franchises.

Hosting their Round 6 game in Waikato, the Chiefs will face the Bulls and they will target a bonus point win. With the Crusaders and the Stormers, the Chiefs are the only other franchise which is unbeaten so far. It is promising for the next Super Rugby Rounds.

Finally, the defending Champions, the Hurricanes, had that bye last weekend. They are coming back in Australia to play the Queensland Reds. The game will take place at Suncorp Stadium. Franchises faced each other 2 years ago, with Hurricanes winning.

Background Information :

The Queensland Reds : Finding form again

In the first game of their season, the Queensland Reds enjoyed a brillant start. They clinched a valuable home win against the Sharks. However, they were unable to back it up a week later against the Western Force. The Reds were finally denied in Perth, then.

Also, the last three games were tough for the australian franchise. They were so close to win against the Crusaders but Mitch Hunt slotted a last penalty. Two weeks ago, the Reds were playing the Lions and could not match them as they were reduced to 14 players.

The Queensland Reds were playing the Jaguares in Buenos Aires last weekend. It was all about finding form again for this franchise. The Queensland Reds have got the potential to go far in the competition and they have appointed an ambitious coach, Nick Stiles.

The Hurricanes : Business as usual

With the defending Champions, coming into this game, the goal was always going to be the same. Coach Chris Boyd wanted business as usual. The Hurricanes had a bye week the week before just after a convincing win against the Highlanders, at Westpac Stadium.

The Hurricanes enjoyed the bye weekend as some players were nursing some knocks and bruising, picked up two weeks ago. The coaching staff knew that the game against the Queensland Reds was tricky because they needed to find that momentum again.

However, the Hurricanes were pretty confident that they could do the job in Australia. They have a good record there and won the last time that they came here. It was in 2015 and the Hurricanes had managed to defend well before taking a big bonus point win.

The Players To Watch :

The Queensland Reds : Stephen Moore, George Smith, Samu Kerevi

Stephen Moore : Having played the most of his career in Canberra with the Brumbies, Stephen Moore is playing now with the Reds. Wallabies captain, he brings experience on the field and his lineout knowledge is useful. He is part of that great leadership group.

George Smith : The most ever capped Wallabies forward, George Smith is back in Super Rugby following spells with european sides. World-class player, he is very strong at the breakdown and wins a lot of turnovers for his side. Quality player to have in a team.

Samu Kerevi : Promising player in Australia, Samu Kerevi is a powerful inside centre. His try-scoring form is outstanding and he brings some physicality to the backline. Samu Kerevi is part of these players who have the ability to create magic and force a decision.

The Hurricanes : Brad Shields, Ngani Laumape, Jordie Barrett

Brad Shields : Very powerful flanker, Brad Shields can also play at number 8, at the back of the scrum, if needed. Brad Shields also have got good attacking skills, which allows him to link well with his backline. In defence, he is efficient with a very good workrate.

Ngani Laumape : Maintaining high standards since the beginning of the season, Ngani Laumape is one of the best try scorers of the competition. He has got the pace and the power to beat the best defenders. He understands the Hurricanes set-up and combos.

Jordie Barrett : Beauden Barrett’s little Brother, Jordie Barrett is currently playing at fullback but his playmaking skills are obvious. He is reading the game well and offloads for his teammates. Jordie Barrett is one of the most promising players in New Zealand.

Team News : The Hurricanes at full strength

Following the Highlanders win, two weeks ago, the Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said that he was welcoming the bye weekend. Some players had picked some knocks in a very physical game against the Southern franchise. The bye weekend was useful for them.

In fact, just after that game, hooker and Captain Dane Coles was struggling with a knee while Matt Proctor had to be taken off the field due to concussion. Finally, replacement hooker Ricky Riccitelli and Ngani Laumape also picked up niggles in Highlanders game.

Reports in the Hurricanes training camp suggested that these four players would be ready for the Queensland Reds game. The Hurricanes scrum coach Dan Cron was focused on forwards challenge which would be an assett for Reds who perform at home.

On Thursday, Chris Boyd named his starting XV to face the Queensland Reds and there was no surprise. The front-row was a classic one with Chris Eves and Jefferey Toomanga-Allen, the props while Ricky Riccitelli started at hooker with Dane Coles being rested.

About the second-row, Michael Fatialofa was partnered with Mark Abbott. The back-row was very powerful with Ardie Savea returning to number 8. Brad Shields and Callum Gibbins were the flankers who started that game in Brisbane, both being key players.

In the backline, the half-back pairing was a classic one with TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett. Ngani Laumape and Matt Proctor were given the nod at centre once again. The back-three showed no changes as well given the level of the performance two weeks ago.

On the wings, Vince Aso and Julian Savea retained their respective jerseys. Vince Aso is rather a centre but seems to enjoy his rugby more on the wing. Finally, the fullback position belonged to Jordie Barrett, after two magnificent try assists against Highlanders.

On the bench, there was room for Ben May, Mike Kainga and Leni Apisai who recovered. Sam Lousi and Reed Prinsep were targeting an impact. Te Toira Tahuriorangi, Otere Black were named with Pita Ahki who had opportunity to make his Super Rugby debut.

Game Summary : Spectacular game in Brisbane

The game was played under perfect weather conditions in Brisbane with the Queensland Reds first trying to adjust to the Hurricanes defence. The australian franchise had a tough start but managed to get the first penalty with Jake McIntyre going for the posts.

He attempted the penalty but the ball drifted to the left of the posts. The Hurricanes regained some possession and started to play an open game with quick balls. Back in the Reds’ 22-metre zone, scrum-half TJ Perenara decided to play on the open side of the field.

First-five eighth Beauden Barrett got the ball and combined with his Brother Jordie Barrett, making the assist for Julian Savea, scoring a first try. The defending Champions added a second try when scrum-half TJ Perenara scored thanks to a clever interception.

Finding their tempo, the Hurricanes thought that they had scored the 3rd try when Beauden Barrett touched down. However, Referee Angus Gardner ruled out the try and yellow-carded Ngani Laumape who had to leave for 10 minutes after a shoulder charge.

Just after that sin-bin, the Hurricanes lost control and the Reds fought back with Chris Kuridrani first touching down. Then, back-rower Scott Higginbotham threw a behind-the-back offload before re-gathering the ball and touching down for the second try.

It was Half-Time and a conversion was the difference (HT : 12-14 Hurricanes). In the second-half, the defending Champions stayed composed and back-rower Ardie Savea made the job. He found space in the wide channel before passing to Vince Aso for the try.

Also, a few moments later, the Hurricanes second-row Mark Abbott touched down but the try was ruled out because his right foot was in touch. There was more work for the TMO (Television Match Official) when centre Ngani Laumape dove over the whitewash.

Calling for the 3rd TMO review, Angus Gardner ruled out another try as there was a knock-on in the build-up. Later in the game, there was a fourth call to the TMO when TJ Perenara played quickly a penalty. The scrum-half thought that he had scored a double.

However, TJ Perenara did not tap the ball before playing that quick tap. Not finding the key to add more tries, the Hurricanes decided to go for the posts. Fullback Jordie Barrett was successful with a 30-metre penalty and the Hurricanes had a 10-point margin, then.

Nevertheless, the defending Champions were penalised from the re-start. It gave an opportunity to Jake McIntyre to close the gap to seven points. That is what he did and there were exactly 9 minutes to play in that game with the Hurricanes leading (15-22).

The Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd re-shuffled his backline with Otere Black coming on in place of Julian Savea. There were three playmaking options on the field with Otere Black, Beauden Barrett and Jordie Barrett. That tactic just paid in the last moments of the game.

Running the backline, Otere Black linked with his teammates to put Jordie Barrett into space for the Hurricanes’ 3rd try. His elder Brother Beauden Barrett got the bonus point try in the 79th minute after beating 3 Queensland Reds defenders to reach the try line.

It was a very good win for the Hurricanes who managed to get a valuable bonus point in Brisbane. The game was spectacular with outstanding passages of play from both sides. The Hurricanes will be pretty confident for next weekend’s game against the Waratahs.

The Barrett Review : The Reason for not goalkicking

Kicks : N/A – Beauden Barrett did not kick at goal in that game with Jordie Barrett taking the role. There is an explanation which was given by assistant coach John Plumtree : Beauden Barrett had a sore rib. Nothing serious but he just wanted to take no risks.

General Play : His best performance of the season so far with his first try scored in 2017. Beauden Barrett had also a try ruled out. Besides, he ran the backline well, was involved both in attack and in defence. He attacked the line more often and gained many metres.

Conclusion : That was a good performance from Beauden Barrett who should be back at goalkicking next weekend. The Hurricanes will face the Waratahs and it will not be an easy game. The Hurricanes will be focused on the task at Westpac Stadium, Wellington.

Good game, Beaudy ! Enjoy the win !

Max.