Blues provide update on Beauden Barrett's latest head knock
Blues star Beauden Barrett isn’t likely to miss much game time after picking up another head knock following his return from a potentially serious concussion sustained late last year.
That’s the verdict from Blues head coach Leon MacDonald, who confirmed on Monday that Barrett’s latest injury blow isn’t as serious as feared by many.
The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year left the field early in the second half of his side’s 32-25 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday due to a head injury sustained while tackling Highlanders centre Fetuli Paea.
The match was only Barrett’s second game, and first start, since his All Blacks campaign ended early last year as a result of a concussion he received during last November’s test against Ireland in Dublin.
Barrett revealed earlier this year that he had considered retirement as a result of that head knock, sparking fears over the severity of his latest injury.
However, MacDonald moved to alleviate those concerns while speaking to media ahead of his side’s clash with Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on Tuesday.
“There’s a mandatory stand down period if you get a bang to the head, which he’s obviously going to sit out, but I think the early signs are positive for him,” MacDonald said.
“Other than a mangled up face, he’s come out pretty well with a pretty sore neck. He’s not too happy about that as well, obviously, but he’s looking pretty good at the moment.”
Barrett hasn’t been named in the team to play Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium in the rare mid-week match, which was rescheduled due to Covid concerns earlier in the year.
MacDonald added that the 30-year-old All Blacks centurion won’t be available for his side’s rematch against their cross-town rivals at Eden Park on Saturday either due to Super Rugby Pacific’s mandatory 10-day stand down period for concussions.
Nevertheless, the Blues boss is optimistic about Barrett’s return to action after having taken a cautious approach when he returned from All Blacks duty near the start of the season.
“There’s always concern with any player that gets a head knock. You don’t want to see anyone with concussion because it’s not a nice injury to have,” MacDonald, who endured many concussions concerns of his own as a player, said.
“We were extra cautious in the way that we brought Beaudy back. We didn’t push him in early, we gave him extra time just to make sure he was really comfortable and was completely gone and he felt really good.
“Even this injury now, it’s not a major one. He doesn’t have concussion symptoms as such, so we just keep on doing what we’re doing. We want to look after our players’ welfare.
“Ultimately, we want him playing a long career, not just next week, so you’ve got to look at the big picture and definitely we’ll take that same stance.”
Barrett’s unavailability for the short-term future leaves MacDonald and the Blues without two of their three first-choice first-fives after Harry Plummer was ruled out for the season with a dislocated shoulder following his side’s round three loss to the Chiefs.
As such, Stephen Perofeta has been called in to start at No 10 against Moana Pasifika on Tuesday, with rookie playmaker Jock McKenzie primed to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut from the bench.
MacDonald acknowledged that those injuries will test the depth of his squad, but he remained confident that those selected – especially the players who have had limited or no experience at Super Rugby level – will acquit themselves well.
“I suppose that’s the biggest challenge as a coach is multiple injuries in the same position, especially critical positions like first-five,” MacDonald said.
“Harry’s out for this season with his shoulder, and obviously we’ve got Beauden out as well, so there’s two of our three contracted 10s. Every team’s got their own challenges.
“I know Aaron will be looking at his squad saying, ‘There’s a couple of positions where we’re feeling a little bit vulnerable as well’, but that’s just part and parcel of what we’re dealing with at the moment.
“This is a good opportunity, I think. One of the things that you can’t afford a lot of in this competition is to really go deep into your squad and give them access to game time, because at some point, you’re going to need them or you want them to develop.
“We’ve talked a lot about depth in New Zealand rugby and this has forced our hand, it’s forced Moana’s hand, and it’s forced our hand to look probably a little bit further than we normally would, but that’s really exciting.
“The buzz that the guys have got when we named the team, we’ve got debutants as well and that’s a big moment for their families and them to get out there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’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.
10 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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?
5 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 comments