All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the Blues’ Super Rugby Pacific defeat on Friday.
The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year was making his first start of the campaign at fly-half and looked in fine form against the Brumbies.
Barrett touched down in the opening quarter and guided his team around the field impressively as the Blues took a 20-10 lead into the interval.
However, the All Blacks great did not appear for the second period due to a hand issue and, when asked about it, head coach of the Auckland outfit, Vern Cotter, was not too positive.
“It doesn’t look particularly good,” Cotter said bluntly.
It was to get even worse for the Blues boss and his charges as the Brumbies mounted a superb comeback and ended up claiming a shock 21-20 triumph at the home of the defending champions.
Declan Meredith scored eight points via a try and penalty to get his side to within touching distance before Ryan Lonergan’s 79th minute three-pointer won the game for the Canberra-based team.
It ended 12 years of hurt for the Aussies, who had not beaten the Blues away from home since 2013, but for the Aucklanders their pain could only just be beginning in regards to Barrett.
Scott Robertson may also be concerned in what has been a pretty disastrous opening to Super Rugby Pacific for the All Blacks boss.
Fly-half was a problem position in 2024 and it could well cause an issue in 2025 given that both Barrett and Damian McKenzie are currently on the sidelines.
Fortunately, McKenzie’s problem is not deemed serious, despite concerns that he took a knock to the same knee he seriously injured in 2019.
“He went in for a scan, and fortunately it’s not too bad,” Chiefs coach Roger Randle told reporters. “He’s a tough little bugger.
“I spoke to him the next morning and he said he was feeling pretty good as well, so the scan kind of just confirmed that.”