Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Hurricanes make fourth positional change for Jordie Barrett

Jordie Barrett. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Hurricanes star Jordie Barrett will play in a fourth different position on Friday after being named to start at centre for their clash against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

ADVERTISEMENT

The ongoing alteration between positions highlights the 22-year-old’s versatility in the backline, after having already played at fullback, wing and second-five for the Hurricanes this season.

Barrett’s move back from wing to the midfield comes after a knock to first-string centre Matt Proctor was enough to demote him to the bench, while fellow midfielder Vince Aso’s pectoral injury has been confirmed as season-ending, with his only glimmer of hope of returning to Super Rugby this year lying with a deep play-offs run by the Hurricanes in July.

Should Barrett make a noteworthy performance in the No. 13 jersey, he could add another dimension to the All Blacks‘ midfield battle set to ensue ahead of the World Cup.

Only four midfield slots will be available for the tournament in Japan, and there are already five genuine contenders for a spot via Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown and Barrett’s Hurricanes teammate and midfield partner Ngani Laumape.

After proving his worth with an impressive outing at second-five against the Stormers in Wellington a fortnight ago, Barrett could add himself to that list of genuine midfield options as someone who can cover both second-five and centre, as well as wing and fullback.

Other points of interest in the side includes the addition of Bay of Plenty and Manu Samoa lock Kane Le’aupepe, who earns a start after making his Super Rugby debut from off the bench in his side’s 32-8 defeat to the Crusaders last week.

ADVERTISEMENT

Regular skipper Dane Coles remains out of action due to an ongoing calf strain, meaning star halfback TJ Perenara will retain the captaincy duties.

“While we were disappointed with the result against the Crusaders the coaching group still found some positives in how we played, especially the way we performed up front,” head coach John Plumtree said.

“The challenge for us now is to get the rest of our game to where it needs to be against what will be a really motivated Highlanders team who will be desperate to play well in front of their home fans.”

Hurricanes team to face the Highlanders: 1. Fraser Armstrong, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Ben May, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Kane Le’aupepe, 6. Vaea Fifita, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Reed Prinsep, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Jordie Barrett, 14. Wes Goosen, 15. Chase Tiatia

ADVERTISEMENT

Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Liam Mitchell, 21. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 22. Finlay Christie, 23. Matt Proctor

Watch – Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger speaks ahead of Hurricanes clash:

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Krakow | Leg 3 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series | Full Day Replay

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 2 hours ago
Reds vs Blues: Ex-All Black missed the mark, Lynagh’s Wallabies statement

Agree re Lynagh.


Disagree Beaver got it wrong. Blues made that look easy. It might be a brawn over brains picture though? More in the last point, but, and this may have changed by player selection, the Reds were very lucky this game. Tele’a should not have been red carded as Ryan landed on his shoulder, and both Tate and Jock (was it) should have been yellowed carded for their offenses in stopping tries. We also had a try dissallowed by going back 10 phases in play. We all should have learned after the RWC that that is against the rules. So straight away on this simple decisions alone the result changes to go in the Blues favour, away from home and playing fairly poorly. The sleeping giant if you will. I didn’t agree with the Blues take either tbh, but to flip it around and say it’s the Reds instead is completely inaccurate (though a good side no doubt you have to give them a chance).


And you’re also riding the wave of defense wins matches a bit much. Aside from Dre’s tackling on Rieko I didn’t see anything in that match other than a bit of tiny goal line defending. I think if you role on the tap for another second you see the ball put placed for the try (not that I jump to agree with Eklund purely because he was adamant), and in general those just get scored more often than not. They are doing something good though stopping line breaks even if it is the Blues (and who also got over the line half a dozen times), I did not expect to be greeted with that stat looking at the game.

8 Go to comments
A
Ashley Carson 3 hours ago
'Not real Lions': How the 1989 British and Irish tourists put Australia on the map

Life can unravel in an instant. For me, that moment came when deceitful cryptocurrency brokers vanished with £40,000 of my savings, a devastating blow that left me paralyzed by shame and despair. The aftermath was a fog of sleepless nights, self-doubt, and a crushing sense of betrayal. I questioned every choice, wondering how I’d fallen for such a scheme. Hope felt like a luxury I no longer deserved. Then, Tech Cyber Force Recovery emerged like a compass in a storm. Skeptical yet desperate, I reached out, half-expecting another dead end. What I found, however, was a team that radiated both expertise and empathy. From our first conversation, they treated my crisis not as a case file, but as a human tragedy. Their professionalism was matched only by their compassion, a rare combination in the often impersonal world of finance.

What happened next defied logic. Within 72 hours of sharing my story, they traced the labyrinth of blockchain transactions, outmaneuvering the scammers with surgical precision. When their email arrived, “Funds recovered, secure and intact,” I wept. It wasn’t just the money; it was the validation that justice could prevail. Tech Cyber Force Recovery didn’t just restore my finances, they resurrected my dignity. But their impact ran deeper. They demystified the recovery process, educating me without judgment. Their transparency became a lifeline, transforming my fear into understanding. Where I saw chaos, they saw patterns; where I felt powerless, they instilled agency. Today, I’m rebuilding not just my savings, but my trust in humanity. Tech Cyber Force Recovery taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that seeking help is an act of courage. To those still trapped in the aftermath of fraud: miracles exist. They wear no capes, but they wield algorithms and integrity like superheroes. To the extraordinary Tech Cyber Force Recovery team, your work is more than technical prowess. It’s alchemy, turning despair into resilience. You gave me more than my funds; you gave me my future. May your light guide countless others through their darkest nights. From the depths of my heart: Thank you.

Consult Tech Cyber Force Recovery for help.

MAIL.. Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

3 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING URC statement: Munster-Bulls error and 'entirely untrue' Piardi rumours URC statement: Munster-Bulls controversy and 'entirely untrue' Piardi
Search