His coach won’t say either way, but Fletcher Smith believes he put a strong case to partner Jordie Barrett as dual Hurricanes playmakers against the Blues on Saturday.
The former Otago and Highlanders pivot from Nelson impressed his coach – former Manawatu first five-eighth Jason Holland – in the driver’s seat in the Hurricanes’ 17-11 victory over the Highlanders on Sunday.
Now the Blues, with Otere Black and Beauden Barrett in the big chairs, hit the capital for Super Rugby Aotearoa on Saturday night after successive wins over the Hurricanes this year, and second place on the ladder beckoning the winning side.
On a tough Sunday afternoon for kickers with the strong northerly buffeting Sky Stadium, Smith did enough to potentially edge ahead of Jackson Garden-Bachop who’d started their previous three matches: losses to the Blues and Crusaders and a win over the Chiefs.
Said Holland of his No 10s: “We’ll have to have a look at the film. Fletch was really solid tonight. The way we controlled the first half between our key drivers, Jordie [Barrett], TJ [Perenara] and Fletch, field position was really awesome.
“Jacko played well at club footy [on Saturday] so there’s some good competition there.”
Any win’s a good win, was the Hurricanes’ mantra from Sunday after they strung plenty of phases together and bombed a few tries which would have put the Highlanders to bed.
Still with their defensive line strong for a second straight match, and enough firepower to score three tries and lead 17-0 with half an hour left, there’s something to build on.
“We were pretty happy. Obviously at times we missed opportunities to put them away but those are things we can look at and improve,” Smith said.
“Against a team like the Blues that’s what we’re going to need, to play for 80 minutes and make the most of those opportunities. You don’t get too many against them.
“We’d be a bit more worried if guys weren’t in position for those potential offloads. We put a big emphasis on our wingers and outsides getting involved, particularly in the conditions because it was pretty tough to get it wide.”
Smith directed traffic well, with his outside Ngani Laumape carting it up strongly and no shortage of willing ball runners, right down to front rowers Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua and Ben May. The lineout hummed along on Aumua’s throw, and the opposition’s at times.
“I thought the forwards were unreal,” said Smith.
There may be more kicking on Saturday night with the Blues showing a willingness to hoof it via Black, Barrett and Harry Plummer at 12. The visitors were excellent early against the Crusaders but the champs seized the big moments late.
Smith said there was no definitive pecking order with the Hurricanes’ No 10 jersey and he and Garden-Bachop knew it was up for grabs. The lure of combining with Barrett remains strong.
“The last couple of years, particularly at All Black level, they’ve showed how important it is to have two pivots out on the field. It creates both sides of attack,” Smith said.
“I work really hard with Jordie, he’s got brilliant skills and can easily slot into 10 or first receiver. We’ve got to make the most of having his skill set there.”
