Super Rugby Pacific: The Difference A Barrett Can Make

Sunday, 6 April 2025, 7:43 pm
Article: RNZ

Jamie Wall, Digital Sports Journalist

Analysis - While one point was the margin of victory, the real difference between the Blues and Hurricanes was plainly obvious for everyone at Eden Park no matter who they were supporting. Whether it was his 60-metre banana kick touch finder or old school downfield torpedo punt, Beauden Barrett's influence and test match experience proved to be invaluable in a tense final act of a game that may yet turn out to be big result for the Blues.

That's because they did it the hard way against a Hurricanes determined to try and win an arm wrestle and very nearly succeeded, had it not been for a couple of crucial blown chances.

Normally this season, the Blues haven't been the ones to get the rub of the green but it felt very much like their luck changed last night. Firstly, Patrick Tuipulotu was very fortunate not to be sent off, then the Hurricanes bombed a beautiful chance late in the game after the impressive Bailyn Sullivan scorched into the 22. In between there were a run of penalties that got the Blues out of trouble, but Cotter was adamant his side had made their own luck.

"Our strategic kicking game came together and how we controlled them, controlled the game at the end. And I thought our physicality increased as well… there's a bit of satisfaction out of that as well," he said, while also praising Barrett's contribution and cool head.

Moana on a roll, Highlanders slip and Crusaders get it done in Suva

However, if the Blues don't improve their attack and Moana Pasifika play like they did in the last two weeks, Cotter's side will be in for a nasty shock next weekend at Eden Park. While it took a while for them to get going, Moana were irresistible in the second half of their 45-28 win over the Waratahs, running in six tries.

Remarkably, three of them went to tighthead prop Feleti Sae-Ta'ofu'ou, yet another unheralded player that Tana Umaga's staff have turned into a very solid Super Rugby starter. Number eight Semisi Tupou-Ta'eiloa continues to press his case for rookie of the year, and it said a lot that the loose forward trio was reshuffled yet again and still managed to overcome a highly rated set of opposites.

Umaga was pragmatic about the amount of depth Moana are building, saying that "we believe there's always things to work on… I think we're creating a competitive culture within". So it is notable that their big success stories this year - Tupou-Ta'eiloa and Patrick Pellegrini - have been organic answers to problems rather than guys that were brought in with a ton of expectations on them. Because really, Ardie Savea is doing enough of that on his own.

The Crusaders bounced back from their shock loss to Moana last weekend with a comfortable 31-14 win in Suva over the Drua, which was pretty much over as a contest after 20 minutes. Rob Penney's side has been quite difficult to get a read on this year, every time everyone presumes the Crusaders are 'back' they put in a dud performance, so maybe we'll learn a bit more next Friday when they play the Hurricanes.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders' slide back into being that team that we all kind of knew they were continued with a 29-20 loss to the Force in Perth. Sean Withy's red card on halftime was more stupid than malicious, but ultimately was the key turning point in a game that had been a good back and forth battle.

That's not taking anything away from the Force, though. They are a far better team than we've become used to and while they have a tough trip over to New Zealand coming up after their bye, they may well find themselves in the unfamiliar role of being a real playoff threat.

© Scoop Media

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