Super Rugby Pacific: Jordie Barrett ‘best in midfield’ not fullback for Hurricanes’ title tilt

All Blacks coach Ian Foster might prefer Jordie Barrett at fullback, but the Hurricanes seem set to use him in midfield for the rest of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

Hurricanes coach Jason Holland named Barrett in the No 12 jumper on Wednesday for Saturday’s quarterfinal against the Brumbies, saying it was “best for the Hurricanes at the moment’’.

Barrett was one of the All Blacks’ best last season in the fullback berth, but he sparked a hot topic in April when he said second five-eighths was “the most comfortable position” for him.

Foster doesn’t see Barrett’s immediate future in midfield, saying on a podcast interview this week that the 25-year-old was only a “long-term option’’ there.

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“We’ve watched with interest him playing 12. It hasn’t excited me that he’s gone into there,” Foster said. “He’s played 12 before and he quite enjoys it. If it stimulates him that’s great, and I’m interested to see whether it’s an option for us long-term, because it might become one.”

Holland, however, has plenty of faith in Barrett’s midfield skills right now.

That’s why he has inserted him back in the No 12 role – where he has played most of the season – as one of five key changes from the starting team that lost 27-22 to the Western Force last weekend.

“Obviously we see the best thing around Jordie’s skill set for this team aro