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Blues confirm Beauden Barrett has broken hand
By Ben Smith
The Blues will lose playmaker Beauden Barrett for several weeks after scans revealed a fractured hand after the 21-2o loss to the Brumbies.
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Barrett looked in vintage touch early against the Brumbies, scoring a first half solo try with trademark speed, before coming off at half-time.
With the All Black superstar, the Blues looked a very different side and the Brumbies climbed back to snatch a win at the death.
“The injury requires ongoing assessment before determining details of treatment or time required for recovery,” the Blues said in a statement.
The typical length of time for a broken hand is six to eight weeks, which would see Barrett return in May for the last few rounds of the regular season.
Crucially, the Blues have a tough run of Kiwi derbies starting next week with the Chiefs, Crusaders and Hurricanes.
The Blues did not score a single point without Barrett on the field against the Brumbies, which head coach Vern Cotter conceded Barrett’s absence had an impact.
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“We need to be better than that,” Cotter said.
“I saw some really good things out there. We generated a lead but to lose at the last minute is always disappointing.”
The Brumbies bagged their first win at Eden Park since 2013 which leaves the defending champions 1-3 over the first month of competition.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Blues play this badly; damn near every ball that went to the air was either fumbled by the Blues or not contested if it was their own kick. Cotter would be better kicking all the over-rated nonperformers like Barrett, (yeah fine running the ball, see my comment re kicking) Tuipolotu and Plummer to the kerb and letting the second stringers show what they can do. How can these guys call themselves professionals if they can’t even catch a football?
Given their poor start to the season the loss of Beaudie could see the Blues out of contention very soon. Can’t see them knocking over the Chiefs or the Crusaders now. Only win so far is a fortuitous one over the Hurricanes.
Well at least he’ll be able to work on his kicking now, the man nearly sent it dead chipping to the corner post. Great to see him run again though, hope it’s a speedy recovery.
Get over to Leinster, champ.
SR will be the ruin of the ABs.
Do players not get injured in URC?
Japan is more useful in that respect.