Blues coach confirms Beauden Barrett needed ‘some stiches’ after injury scare

Blues coach Leon MacDonald confirmed that Beauden Barrett needed “some stiches” after leaving the sector early within the second half in opposition to the Queensland Reds on Friday.

The All Blacks centurion has come below hearth this season following some uncharacteristically poor performances for the Blues.

The truth is, some rugby followers have questioned whether or not Barrett ought to even go to this 12 months’s World Cup – a variety bombshell which appeared nigh on unimaginable 12 months in the past.

However as Barrett has proven time and time once more, the flyhalf is a world-class rugby participant. The 31-year-old silenced a few of his critics throughout a sensational first half in opposition to the Reds in Brisbane.

Barrett despatched Cameron Suafoa by way of an enormous hole with an excellent brief ball halfway by way of the primary half, which in the end set-up Zarn Sullivan’s strive moments later.

Then, shortly after, the veteran playmaker confirmed grit and willpower as he fought his approach to the strive line for a five-pointer of his personal.

By half-time, the Blues held a slender lead over their trans-Tasman rivals, and Barrett was definitely within the dialog for greatest on floor honours at that stage of the competition.

However not lengthy after the break, catastrophe struck.

Barrett limped off the sector and disappeared down the tunnel at Suncorp Stadium. Whereas the pivot was seen on the published smiling later within the match, the extent of his accidents have been nonetheless unknown.

Beauden Barrett has simply gone off injured in opposition to the Reds.

With lower than 4 months to go till this 12 months’s Rugby World Cup, greater than 5,000,000 New Zealanders maintain their breath.#AllBlacks #SuperRugbyPacific #RugbyWorldCup @RugbyPass

— Finn Morton (@FinnMorton5) Might 19, 2023

With this 12 months’s World Cup lower than 4 months away, the uncertainty of any injury was all the time going to create a way of unease amongst rugby followers.

However Blues coach Leon MacDonald has downplayed the severity of the injury.

“Beauden got here off with a gash to his heel,” MacDonald mentioned post-game. “He’ll want some stiches in that.

“He couldn’t put his boot again on mainly.”

With out Barrett, the Blues went on to report a snug 45-26 win over the house aspect in Brisbane.

Playmaker Harry Plummer stepped up within the All Blacks absence, and helped the crew bounce again from their defeat to the Crusaders in spherical 12.

Whereas the victory put the Blues into fourth on the Tremendous Rugby Pacific ladder on Friday night, the Hurricanes are vying for a spot within the high 4.

The boys from the capital sat one-point behind the Blues on the ladder in fifth forward of their conflict with the Chiefs, which units up a blockbuster in Auckland subsequent weekend.

“Subsequent week’s sport in opposition to the Hurricanes is clearly an enormous one,” he added. “We’ll be jostling for a place – somebody will leapfrog another person.

“That’s an enormous one at house. Then we’ve acquired yet one more sport – a sport at house in opposition to the Highlanders.

“(There’s) some huge video games within the subsequent two rounds. There’ll be some positions up for grabs.

“Clearly we need to be enjoying at house, so it’s actually essential. Constructing on tonight’s efficiency we are able to take some confidence in each assault and defence.

“However our self-discipline must be higher, there’s little question about that.”