Rugby: Kick in tail delivered at right time, says coach

John Plumtree.

Quiz Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree on the aspects of play where improvement is needed if his troops are to return to the winning path and the list is lengthy.

"We weren't happy with our kicking game as we kicked too much ball away. We were disappointed with our lineout, our defence was soft which led to a couple of soft tries ... there was a mixture of poor stuff," the 1992 Hawke's Bay Magpies flanker said as he reflected on last week's 35-18 loss to the Crusaders in Nelson, the Canes' second defeat this season.

Plumtree, 49, agreed it was better for a performance like that to occur during the round robin phase of the competition than during a playoff match and it was a "kick in the bum" at the right time.

All Black first five-eighth Beauden Barrett will return to the team tomorrow night after a month off with a knee injury but he won't be kicking goals. Halfback TJ Perenara and fullback James Marshall are the likely candidates for goalkicking duties.

"I feel comfortable to do my job as a 10 but not really the goalkicking," Barrett said.

"Because of the nature of the injury, it's an MCL, it's that side-on lateral movement [that is a problem]. So that's the last thing [required] to say that I'm 100 per cent to be a goalkicking first-five."

Despite not taking the kicking tee, Barrett said he felt confident of getting through 80 minutes in a game in which they could book home advantage for the playoffs with a victory, or two losing bonus points.

"I wouldn't be out there if I didn't feel up to it," he said.

Barrett's return has allowed Manawatu pivot Otere Black to fly to Italy to join the New Zealand under-20s at the world championship.

-Hurricanes: James Marshall, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Rey Lee-Lo, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Blade Thomson, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes.

Substitutes, forwards: Brayden Mitchell, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Mark Abbott, Brad Shields. Backs: Chris Smylie, Callum Gibbins/Willis Halaholo, Cory Jane/Ma'a Nonu.

-Highlanders: Named today.