Super Rugby 2020: Hurricanes fail to entice big-name replacement for departed Beauden Barrett

Hurricanes coach John Plumtree
Hurricanes coach John Plumtree Photo credit: Photosport

The Hurricanes have failed to recruit a high-profile replacement for departed playmaker Beauden Barrett.

Coach John Plumtree named his 2020 Super Rugby squad on Tuesday, selecting three first-fives - James Marshall, Jackson Garden-Bachop and Fletcher Smith.

Barrett's shift to the Blues has created quite a headache in the capital, but Plumtree is confident he has the talent to limit the loss of the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year.

Beauden Barrett is off to the Blues in 2020.
Beauden Barrett is off to the Blues in 2020. Photo credit: Getty

"We have got a large number of players who have performed really well for us in recent seasons and a number of them have been in excellent form for the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup," he said.

"All the players we have brought in will add an extra dimension to the squad next season and it's going to be great to get everyone together when we get back to work."

Highly rated prop Tyrel Lomax is the big addition to the squad. The former Melbourne Rebels player was a fringe World Cup All Black this year, after making his debut against Japan in Tokyo a year ago. 

Lomax joins former Blues lock Scott Scrafton as exciting additions to a forward pack rich in talent. 

"We think Tyrel and Scott are going to be great assets for us, and really compliment a forward pack that will work really hard to achieve what we want," Plumtree said.

They can call on plenty of experience with Dane Coles, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Vaea Fifita, Ardie Savea, Marshall, Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso all former Super Rugby champions with the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes squad: Pouri Rakete-Stones, Fraser Armstrong, Alex Fidow, Tyrel Lomax, Ben May, Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles, Ricky Riccitelli, James Blackwell, Kane Le'aupepe, Liam Mitchell, Scott Scrafton, Isaia Walker-Leawere Vaea Fifita, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea, Murphy Taramai, Devan Flanders, Gareth Evans, TJ Perenara, Jamie Booth, Jonathan Taumateine, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Fletcher Smith, Ngani Laumape, Vince Aso, Billy Proctor, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Danny Toala, Kobus van Wyk, Wes Goosen, Ben Lam, Jonah Lowe, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett, James Marshall, Chase Tiatia.

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