Super Rugby: 'They're the kicks every kicker wants': how Jordie Barrett iced Hurricanes' victory
He cannoned one first half attempt into the upright, but Jordie Barrett wasnt unduly burdened when he lined up the potential matchwinner with the 20,018-strong Wellington crowd chanting his name on Saturday night. Sure enough, the Hurricanes superboot sent it from a few metres inside the touchline, soaring between the sticks at the southern end as his 77th minute conversion sealed their 29-27 win over the Blues. You always have to be confident, but missing a couple I should have got in the first half doesnt help. You cant erase them from the memory, Barrett said. But theyre the kicks that every kicker wants, theyre the ones I want, the ones you practice for during the week. I was just lucky I hit it true. It only snuck in. Its nice when they go over. READ MORE: * Jordie Barrett boots Hurricanes to memorable victory over Blues * Jordie Barrett gets the last laugh over Beauden in brotherly battle * NZ rugby risks isolation in bold go-it-alone approach Of course this was no fluke. Barrett helped win the Hurricanes their pre-lockdown thriller against the Chiefs on March 13 with a cool late penalty from a friendlier angle in Hamilton, and has boomed a pair of 60m-plus goals this year. He says he enjoys the wider ones, and at least this was on his good side and the Wellington gale of a week ago was mercifully absent, after Asafo Aumua scored out wide. At warmups Barrett calmly hoofed one over from halfway that cleared the crossbar easily, but also missed one that cost him $5. A few thoughts ran through his head as the crowd chanted his name, the new hero of the Cake Tin. You cant block that out. I always try to add pressure on myself during the week, and as a kid you give yourself scenarios in your head, with a kick to win. Even in the warmup I bet one of our physios a coffee if I missed, and I did so I owe him a coffee. Theyre the sort of things you try to get going to add a bit of pressure. I was just pleased it went over. Certainly the Barrett family clan in the stands wouldnt have doubted him, as the Hurricanes gleefully won their third in a row. Nor did older brother Beauden, standing glumly behind the posts with his Blues team-mates with the scores level after a memorable, high octane Super Rugby Aotearoa contest. He loves those moments. Hes the sort of player who just backs himself. Fair play to him. He took his opportunity, Beauden Barrett said with a smile of his 23-year-old sibling and All Blacks team-mate. What an ending it was to this much-awaited battle of the Barretts, the brothers opposing each other for the first time in a competitive match, since the paddocks of their Taranaki farm. They dined together on Friday night and Beauden admitted not much was said between the pair. Jordie, who missed round one at Eden Park with a shoulder injury, was pumped and nervous for the big occasion. This afternoon I had a few more butterflies than I normally do, with family down and people coming from all over the country to watch us play each other added to those butterflies. Theres more to tonight than our clash and I had to contribute to our team and focus on what I could do. For most of that first half I felt I was a little bit off and Im glad I had a better second half. Beauden Barrett, head bloodied with tape protecting the wound, had a bizarre night out on return to Wellington after 125 Super Rugby matches for the Hurricanes, a few alongside his brother. It was great fun playing against Jordie. It was always going to be a heated battle against the Hurricanes first time playing here, I was expecting that... There certainly is [nostalgia]. I didnt listen to the noise or take that into account but of course its very personal and a familiar place for me. Beauden Barretts night started in horror fashion when Ngani Laumape burned him off to score a wonderful 45m try. Then the Hurricanes second five-eighth steamrolled over Barrett on the way to the line. In between, Barrett produced his trademark brilliance to score from a standing start, searing his way through a gap. He said of Laumape: It was a lot easier playing with him than against him. If you give him space you just dont know if hes going to run over you or around you.