Watch: Jordie Barrett's freakish skills

NZ Herald

20 Jul, 2017 06:59 AM2 mins to read

Jordie Barrett kicks at goal.

It seems that Jordie Barrett can do it all.

The 20-year-old has been in superb form for the Hurricanes this season, and showcased his all-around skills with a 16 point display against the Crusaders last weekend.

The recent All Blacks call-up scored one try and slotted a penalty and four conversions - several of which were from the sidelines - as the Hurricanes toppled the previously unbeaten Crusaders.

His kicking display made many fans suggest he should have been kicking for the All Blacks in the third Lions test, and a display at training today may back that up.

At the Hurricanes' kicking competition to conclude training in Canberra, Barrett - who is right footed - remarkably nailed a sideline conversion with his left boot.

Barrett will surely edge out his brother Beauden to take the kicking duties tomorrow night against the Brumbies, while he is set for a second straight start at centre to due an injury to Vince Aso.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says his performance at centre against the Crusaders showed just how far his skills and maturity could take him.

"I saw some snippets of his performance in Saturday's game that maybe he could be a midfielder as well.

"He's got a wonderful skillset - he's probably a little bit tall for a halfback but I think he could genuinely play anywhere between 10 and 15 and I don't think he'd do a bad job."

That's not to say there isn't room for improvement, Boyd cautions, adding that Jordie and second-five Ngani Laumape had spent the last week working particularly hard on midfield defence.

The 1.96m youngster has rarely played at centre, particularly since leaving school, and the tweaked Hurricanes defence against the Crusaders proved a little tricky.

"I thought he coped remarkably well given a small change in philosophy around the way we defend and the fact that he doesn't often play at 13," Boyd said.