Online Reporter
CENTRE Jordie Barrett was set to fly home yesterday after being ruled out of the rest of New Zealand’s northern hemisphere rugby tour with injuries suffered in the Test against Ireland.
Barrett was forced from the field in the 13th minute of New Zealand’s 26-13 win over Ireland in Chicago on Saturday.
Coach Scott Robertson said Barrett underwent treatment on the flight from Chicago to Scotland, where the All Blacks play at Murrayfield on Saturday.
But scans showed “a high ankle injury as well as a minor knee injury”, an All Blacks statement said yesterday.
“Barrett will return to New Zealand on Wednesday to begin his rehabilitation under the Hurricanes medical team,” it added, referring to Barrett’s Wellington-based Super Rugby side.
New Zealand captain Scott Barrett cut his leg three minutes into the win over Ireland and received 12 stitches, ruling him out of the Scotland test. Blues lock Josh Beehre was called up as cover.
New Zealand are looking to preserve their proud record of never having lost to Scotland in 32 Tests spanning 120 years.
The All Blacks have won 30 with Scotland’s best results being two Murrayfield draws – 0-0 in 1964 and 25-25 in 1983.
Meanwhile, Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne has had the red card he was shown for a dangerous tackle on New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett in last weekend’s Test in Chicago rescinded by an independent disciplinary committee.
Beirne was initially shown a yellow card for barging into Barrett at close quarters and briefly making contact with the fly-half’s face, but it was upgraded to red on review.
“The disciplinary committee accepted the player’s submissions that while an act of foul play had occurred, it did not meet the red card threshold,” the committee said in its ruling on Tuesday.
“The 20-minute red card was thus rescinded. As a result, the player is now free to play and available for selection this weekend.”
Beirne, 33, is now free to play against Japan in Dublin on Saturday, when Ireland will be looking to get back to winning ways after going down 26-13 to the All Blacks in Chicago. — AFP Sport.
