Hurricanes Playbook - Jordie Barrett's banana split

Jordie Barrett’s astute line running makes him one of the best attacking fullbacks in the competition.

His timing on the ball at pace makes him a dangerous option runner for the Hurricanes, who are finding more ways to inject him into the game. His time as a midfielder has sharpened his running lines – he has a ruthless attitude when hitting the line, with no regard for anyone attempting to get in his way.

This pet play in particular looks to find two big forwards and split them in half with this clever play design.

This is a common setup in a 1-3-3-1 formation – a line of three forwards outside 10 and an outside back floating in behind. Ulster runs this pattern frequently in the Pro 14 with backs like winger Jacob Stockdale. In this situation, Jordie Barrett is the designated outside back for the Hurricanes.

Beauden Barrett picks the second runner out and Jordie Barrett adjusts his line to pop off Chris Eves (1) outside shoulder.

Luke Romano (19) has rushed up to put pressure the ball carrier Eves, while Wyatt Crockett (1) has aligned with the next man Ricci Riccitelli (2).

The tip pass is common in a pod or line of three forwards so Riccitelli’s presence as a tip receiver holds Crockett just long enough Barrett to explode through the line on a delayed run.

Crockett and Romano being two bigger, slower men are the perfect ‘bananas’ for this play.

As Eves pops the pass, Crockett is slowing up but Barrett’s speed from depth is going to blow past a weak side arm tackle from the big man. From the front-on view, we see Riccitelli has held Crockett’s attention long enough opening a small window.

Barrett explodes through the line before throwing a ridiculous offload back inside which is scooped up by Perenara for the try.

We saw this same play used against the Bulls in Pretoria last year where Barrett scores a 50-metre individual try. In an identical scenario, the Bulls defence rushes out to pressure the lead runner from the pod.

The next defender plants in anticipation of tackling the third forward in the pod on the tip (in this case Mark Abbott number 5), which frees the lane for Jordie Barrett hitting top gear.

This variation of pod play with Barrett creates a mismatch of big forwards trying to cover the speed of Jordie Barrett from a disadvantaged position. Jordie Barrett is one of the best line runners in the game and is able to discreetly disguise his run, hitting the pop pass at top speed perfectly.

This is just one variation that the Hurricanes can run in this pattern – the forwards can interlink with tip passes or feed Barrett out the back on the second level to release the ball wider, or just generally use a pod to set the next ruck. Teams are lulled into bringing pressure to the pod runner and this play punishes them for it.

Jordie Barrett at fullback will continue making fools off big forwards defending in the middle with this banana split.