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

Blues coach Leon MacDonald confirmed that Beauden Barrett needed “some stitches” after leaving the field early in the second half against the Queensland Reds on Friday.

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

In fact, some rugby fans have questioned whether Barrett should even go to this year’s World Cup – a selection bombshell which appeared nigh on impossible 12 months ago.

But as Barrett has shown time and time again, the flyhalf is a world-class rugby player. The 31-year-old silenced some of his critics during a sensational first half against the Reds in Brisbane.

Barrett sent Cameron Suafoa through a big gap with a brilliant short ball midway through the first half, which ultimately set-up Zarn Sullivan’s try moments later.

Then, shortly after, the veteran playmaker showed grit and determination as he fought his way to the try line for a five-pointer of his own.

By half-time, the Blues held a slender lead over their trans-Tasman rivals, and Barrett was certainly in the conversation for best on ground honours at that stage of the contest.

But not long after the break, disaster struck.

Barrett limped off the field and disappeared down the tunnel at Suncorp Stadium. While the pivot was seen on the broadcast smiling later in the match, the extent of his injuries were still unknown.

With this year’s World Cup less than four months away, the uncertainty of any injury was always going to create a sense of unease amongst rugby fans.

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

“Beauden came off with a gash to his heel,” MacDonald said post-game. “He’ll need some stitches in that.

“He couldn’t put his boot back on basically.”

Without Barrett, the Blues went on to record a comfortable 45-26 win over the home side in Brisbane.

Playmaker Harry Plummer stepped up in the All Blacks absence, and helped the team bounce back from their defeat to the Crusaders in round 12.

While the victory put the Blues into fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder on Friday evening, the Hurricanes are vying for a spot in the top four.

The men from the capital sat one-point behind the Blues on the ladder in fifth ahead of their clash with the Chiefs, which sets up a blockbuster in Auckland next weekend.

“Next week’s game against the Hurricanes is obviously a big one,” he added. “We’ll be jostling for a position – someone will leapfrog someone else.

“That’s a big one at home. Then we’ve got one more game – a game at home against the Highlanders.

“(There’s) some big games in the next two rounds. There’ll be some positions up for grabs.

“Obviously we want to be playing at home, so it’s really important. Building on tonight’s performance we can take some confidence in both attack and defence.

“But our discipline needs to be better, there’s no doubt about that.”