Rugby: Jordie Barrett retained in Hurricanes midfield against Brumbies

Hurricanes centre Jordie Barrett scores a try against the Crusaders. Photo/Photosport

Jordie Barrett will run out again at centre for the Hurricanes against the Brumbies, and should be the better for his run there last week and a full few days of preparation in the unfamiliar position.

The 20-year-old was originally slated as a midfield option for the Hurricanes, after sterling work as a second-five for Canterbury and the New Zealand Under 20s in 2016.

But the reigning NZ age-grade player of the year has taken to fullback so well, he even made the All Blacks from the back.

However, when Vince Aso tweaked his groin in the warm-up before the Crusaders clash, Barrett took the No 13 jersey and again looked the goods, one defensive system lapse notwithstanding.

He scored a try, running a fine centre's angle off a short ball from Otere Black, and kicked his goals with aplomb.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd knows he could probably do a job from first-five out, such is his wide range of skills and unflappable temperament.

He was unsure, as ever, whether Jordie or Beauden, shrugging off a sinus infection, would take the goalkicks, but it would surprise if Jordie does not have the responsibility.

"We probably defend slightly differently to what Jordie has ever done in the midfield," Boyd says. "He has tended to be at 12 since he left school, so I thought he played remarkably well, given there is a change in philosophy around the way we defend.

"He's had a solid week. We've run a lot of Brumbies plays against us, so I think he should cope fine."

In the Week Nine corresponding fixture, the Brumbies pressured the Hurricanes in Napier during the first spell, scoring one of the team tries of the year to halfback Joe Powell.

But they succumbed to a devastating second-half blitz in which the home side, helped by a Vince Aso hat-trick and a Beauden Barrett crosskicking masterclass, laid on 42 unanswered points.

Boyd and the Hurricanes will not be expecting such an easy ride on Friday night, not with the rugged Scott Fardy playing possibly his final game for the franchise, before he heads to Leinster.

They will also have the emotion of five-eighths Christian Lealiifano making his return to competition play just 10 months after a leukemia diagnosis.

The Brumbies will present a solid set-piece and have dangerous attackers in Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani, who will mark Jordie Barrett, but they are at long odds to be the first Australian side to lower their trans-Tasman rivals this season.

Unlike the Blues, who wilted in the 42-degree Tokyo furnace last weekend, the Hurricanes will prepare for freezing temperatures in the Australian capital. The last time they were there, in February 2016, they were famously rolled by more than 50 points.

Hurricanes: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Wes Goosen, Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (c), Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Mark Abbott, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Ben May
Reserves: Dane Coles, Chris Eves, Loni Uhila, Reed Prinsep, Callum Gibbins, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, Cory Jane

Brumbies: Tom Banks, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, James Dargaville, Wharenui Hawera, Joe Powell, Jordan Smiler, Chris Alcock, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter (c), Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Mann-Rea, Scott Sio
Reserves: Robbie Abel, Ben Alexander, Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, Blake Enever, Jarrad Butler, Tomas Cubelli, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Christian Lealiifano