Jordie Barrett’s ‘phenomenal’ verdict on Hurricanes’ All Blacks bolters: ‘Work their backsides off’
Jordie Barrett in action for the All Blacks and fellow Hurricanes star Fehi Fineanganofo.
Jordie Barrett insists there is much more to record-breaking wings Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby than just tries after both players were named in the All Blacks squad.
The uncapped duo were certainly not in the Test conversation before the season started but they became impossible to ignore after stunning campaigns for the Hurricanes.
They both finished on 17 tries after scoring in the Super Rugby Pacific final, which eclipsed the previous single season record of 16 set by Ben Lam and Joe Roff.
Tries in the Super Rugby final
Moorby touched down twice and Fineanganofo once in the showpiece event as the Hurricanes thrashed the Chiefs on Saturday.
They will look to take that excellence into the All Blacks international campaign, which starts next month against France in the Nations Championship.
“We have a game plan that helps wingers score tries but some of the finishing that those boys have done this year is been phenomenal,” Barrett told Sport Nation.
“I’ve just been more impressed with the effort areas outside of their ability to score tries. Moorbs is an unbelievable kick-chaser, works off his wing a lot.
“Fehi can just beat a defender. He showed glimpses of his defence on Saturday where he’s willing to work. A big engine from being in that sevens environment and [Hurricanes head coach] Clark [Laidlaw] took him on that trust as well.
“The ability that those guys have, they work their backsides off those two boys.”
The Hurricanes became one of the most dominant teams in Super Rugby history when they thrashed the Chiefs in the final.
Hurricanes’ incredible run
That 60-5 victory followed 66-12 and 57-21 successes over the Brumbies and Blues respectively in a remarkable set of performances and results.
While the ‘Canes have a star-studded team, they also have an excellent set of coaches, led by head honcho Laidlaw, who has received plenty of praise following their title triumph.
Barrett was duly asked what made a great coach and he responded: “The tools and the trust to be given the reins on any given opportunity. If something happens in a game, we’ve got a solution.
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“Sometimes you don’t know what problems or positions you’re going to be in games, but good coaches give you the tools to get you out of those or overcome them.
“We’re well set up, we had a forward pack who were amazing. We had a scrum and a lineout that we could lean on, and maybe we didn’t have that in the past three or four years.”
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