Andrew Mulligan: Dear Beaudy, Canes have all you need

Beauden Barratt is already part of a better team. Photo / Getty Images

Carter showed how to side-step the Blues

Part of me really wanted to write an open letter, arguably the worst device in all of journalism, to Beauden Barrett to try to convince him to stay at the Hurricanes. I will be the first to say I am not above an open letter.

As a Canes supporter, I feel it's best to at least implore you publicly that, while the Blues are improving and their depth of talent, you are already part of a better team and have more chance winning an elusive title staying where you are.

The Blues can't develop a first five-eighths to save themselves and since when did an All Black go to the Blues from another franchise to improve his chances? They leave to make the All Blacks.

To be fair, the chances of you, Beauden Barrett, not making the All Blacks at this stage of your career because the Blues struggle at times (less frequently it has to be said because Tana Umaga is doing a great job) are low.

But my point is this: Daniel Carter.

A few seasons ago, I received a call from a well-placed source that Carter was moving to the Blues to see out his New Zealand career before heading overseas. Apparently he came very close to doing this but realised he could easily split his time between Christchurch and Auckland where his wife and family were by regularly scouring Grabaseat deals when they popped into his inbox.

Your partner, Beauden, is an Aucklander and she might be keen to move back but it's been done before so it's entirely feasible. The majority of Hurricanes fans would be happy to compromise on that loyalty. And while your father, Smiley, might become Frowny Barrett at the thought of you being an Aucklander, he'll be pretty stoked you're choosing the Hurricanes.

Speaking of choices, it's something that has been a hot topic in golfing circles because of the number of players opting out of the Olympics.

Jason Day, world No 1 no less, this week announced he won't be travelling to Rio for fear of the Zika virus. While this is a very real concern of Day, who is hoping to have a family soon, it's made easier because golf doesn't need the Olympics and neither do the stars of it.

When it was confirmed in 2009 as an Olympic sport, and Rio was named as host city (a US friendly time zone), I bet NBC, who pay the most for the rights to the Games, could see viewership numbers climb before their eyes with the thought of Tiger Woods, who would've already broken Jack Nicklaus' record for the most major titles, standing atop the dais.

Nike would have been frothing, too. That's how I envisioned it, anyway.

Now we have a jam-packed PGA calendar to accommodate the stars who have pulled out for a threat that is entirely manageable. As Professor Michael Baker of the Department of Public Health from the University of Otago said to Radio Sport, it is well down the list of things to worry about because the risk is very low.

While Zika is a concern for Day (who has struggled with vertigo and influenza), it's hard to escape the fact that golf at the Olympics doesn't resonate with the players like Majors do.

I would have liked to have seen you, Beauden Barrett, at the Olympics as part of the sevens team but will be happy with you in a Hurricanes jersey in the future.

Kind Regards,

Andrew Mulligan