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All Blacks give Beauden Barrett injury update ahead of France clash
The All Blacks are likely to close their season out against France this weekend without the services of star playmaker Beauden Barrett.
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Speaking to media on Wednesday [NZT], All Blacks assistant coach John Plumtree revealed that Barrett is “in doubt” for this weekend’s season-ending – and season-defining – clash against Les Bleus at the Stade de France in Paris on Sunday [NZT].
The 30-year-old left the field early in last weekend’s 29-20 defeat at the hands of Ireland in Dublin, and never returned after failing a head injury assessment.
Since then, he hasn’t trained at full capacity this week as he continues to work through concussion protocols, leaving Richie Mo’unga as the frontrunner to start in the No 10 jersey in four days’ time.
“At this point, he hasn’t trained fully,” Plumtree told reporters from the French capital.
“Done a bit of jogging today, so hasn’t completed all of his protocols yet. He’s in doubt, I would say, especially with Wednesday being tomorrow and Thursday our final prep day.”
The news comes as a significant blow for the All Blacks, especially given Anton Lienert-Brown, who started as second-five at Aviva Stadium, is also unavailable after partially dislocating his shoulder against the Irish.
Lienert-Brown was replaced by David Havili in that match, but the latter’s stagnant form has raised questions over who All Blacks boss Ian Foster will select in the No 12 jersey this weekend.
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In the face of rush defences, Havili has struggled to impose himself and punch his way over the advantage line, as has been evident against the Springboks, Wales and Ireland this year.
Calls have thus grown for Foster to thrust powerful youngster Quinn Tupaea into the fray due to his size and direct ball-carrying ability, but whether the head coach will entrust the inexperience of the six-test international over Havili remains to be seen.
Regardless of who lines up outside of Mo’unga – who is likely to be supported by Damian McKenzie on the bench – in the No 12 jersey, the All Blacks are set to field a new five-eighth pairing against the French.
However, Mo’unga could have his playmaking partnership with Aaron Smith renewed following the arrival of the 101-test veteran to Europe last week.
“For New Zealand, knowing the problem is not the same as being able to stop it.” ????
ADVERTISEMENTGregor Paul ??
? https://t.co/Vz2YPM6dzw pic.twitter.com/e9s45NlNCA
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) November 16, 2021
Smith hasn’t played for the All Blacks since their second Bledisloe Cup win over the Wallabies in August after missing most of the Rugby Championship and end-of-year tour because of the arrival of his second child.
The 32-year-old answered an SOS call from the All Blacks in the wake of their ugly 47-9 win over Italy in Rome a fortnight ago, though, after fellow halfbacks Brad Weber and Finlay Christie encountered injury struggles during that match.
Smith was deemed unavailable for the Ireland test as he only arrived in Dublin three days’ out from that match, but, after a week involved in the All Blacks set-up, Plumtree said he is available for selection this weekend.
“Obviously it would be nice for him to have a couple of games [before coming into camp],” Plumtree said.
“He’s got family commitments around having his new baby boy that prevented that, but he’s been here eight or 10 days now, been training really well, so certainly nice to have him here with his experience.
“He’s in contention, and that’s something for us to consider.”
Ireland lifted the spirts of a nation at a rocking Aviva Stadium in Dublin but for the players, there will be no getting carried away, they know making meaningful progress in the 2023 World Cup is a priority ?
? https://t.co/OdYpm7KVra pic.twitter.com/OXhzg5HyEB
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) November 16, 2021
That means the All Blacks now have four halfbacks in the running to play against France, as Weber has shaken off his concussion and broken nose, while Christie was named on the bench for the Ireland game, despite picking up a neck injury earlier that week.
It was perhaps that reason he didn’t make it onto the field last weekend in spite of TJ Perenara’s ineffectual performance in a rare starting role, but Plumtree said the door is wide open for all of the All Blacks halfbacks to feature this weekend.
“All the 9s are actually available, so we’ve got a choice to make there. They’ve all got different strengths and weaknesses and all offer something different to our game.
“Aaron’s played over 100 tests, so a very experienced campaigner. We know that TJ’s 60 or 70 test matches around that point as well, so we’ve got two really experienced campaigners there available.
“Brad Weber’s played really well on this tour, and Finlay Christie’s up and coming, so we’ve got some really nice choices to make there, and that selection will be based around how we want to play and how others are playing.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
7 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments