Beauden Barrett to the Blues?

[admartian]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10895255

This is interesting. Great news for the Blues if this happens. Has plenty of firepower around if it does happen (though he has that too at the Canes). But will probably get a good go at 10 instead of being shifted to Fullback.

 

[Larksea]

sounds like it will probably happen, even though I'll be upset to see Perenara and Barrett split the hurricanes have seriously gone backwards this season and the blues have gone forwards. The missing link at the blues is a top level first five. With Ranger going the blues need to recruit aggressively to keep going forward and have names that bring people to watch them.

looking at the NZ teams and top level 10's IMO we have 7 really good 10s and 5 teams but the chiefs and crusaders each have two of this good 10s

Carter and tyler bleyendaal at the crusaders
Cruden and Anscombe at the Chiefs
Barrett at canes
slade at highlanders

nokes has been too inconsistent and poor on defense though it's true at times he's been fantastic.
Sopoaga has also shown glimpses of serious quality between injuries and may also be a target for JK but not as high a priority as Barrett.

The situation is worrying for the Hurricanes, I can't see anything that will ensure that will turn things around next season or regain momentum other than bringing in the younger Savea who does look set to become a big name and they could potentially lose Barrett and Julean Savea

A big factor for the canes is Andre Taylor, 2012 he blew everyone away and was arguably one of the best players in super rugby. This year he's almost been a non-factor.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I don't think it will happen.

 

[FlukeArtist]

I honestly don't think it will happen either.

Too used to hearing these stories about players transferring to Auckland and it never happening

 

[nickdnz]

It better not happen. The Canes have achieved what they have off the back of the David Holwell's (who was taken by the Blues in 2007), the Jimmy Gopperth's (taken by the Blues in 2009) and then we got the shining light of Aaron Cruden (taken by the Chiefs in 2011). If we lose Barrett who is up there with Cruden in terms of potential - in that same two year pattern I'm genuinely going to be furious. When are other teams going to stop trying to take away all our players?!

 

[admartian]

It better not happen. The Canes have achieved what they have off the back of the David Holwell's (who was taken by the Blues in 2007), the Jimmy Gopperth's (taken by the Blues in 2009) and then we got the shining light of Aaron Cruden (taken by the Chiefs in 2011). If we lose Barrett who is up there with Cruden in terms of potential - in that same two year pattern I'm genuinely going to be furious. When are other teams going to stop trying to take away all our players?!

When you stop making them.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Hey come on Nick - Holwell was from Northland originally - you guys took him from us.

As for Gopperth ... well we should never have taken that guy in the first place.. we probably did you guys a favour.

 

[nickdnz]

Hey come on Nick - Holwell was from Northland originally - you guys took him from us.

As for Gopperth ... well we should never have taken that guy in the first place.. we probably did you guys a favour.

Well he never played for the Blues prior to joining the Hurricanes.

I actually have always rated Gopperth - he tended to be a bit hit and miss, but he's been playing some very good rugby for Newcastle and now moved to Leinster. Either way he was a crap load better than Daniel Kirkpatrick!!!

 

[steblin]

Glaring hole for the Blues that needs filled, you look at the crop of 10's in the NZ division and the Blues don't compare. Noakes showed some genius going forward in the first half of the season, but hes just too small, his defense has been non-existent. If theres a one on one with Noakes to beat, its game over. Kerr has not showed much in my mind either, but still has potential.
I think with the departure of Ranger, its going to be even more important to have a quality 10 driving that young back line, Barrett would be ideal.
Would be a big loss for the Canes though.