Jordie Barrett was held out of full training in Auckland on Tuesday as New Zealand Rugby’s All Blacks management take a cautious approach to a leg injury just four days before Ireland’s Eden Park assault on their 52-Test unbeaten record.
According to a fresh update from 1News, the influential No.12 wore a tracksuit and took only a limited part in the session at North Harbour Stadium after picking up what All Blacks assistant coach Mike Blair described as “a knock to his leg.” Blair said management are “just being cautious” given Barrett’s heavy workload through wins over France and Italy, ahead of Saturday’s Nations Championship decider against an Ireland side chasing All Blacks history at Eden Park.
New Zealand Rugby: Beauden Barrett’s Recall Chances Rise
Jordie’s absence sharpened focus on older brother Beauden, overlooked for the first two Tests of the year but showing in training the class that has built his long Test career, Blair said. Ruben Love still holds the inside running at fly-half, with his partnership alongside Jordie Barrett having driven the All Blacks’ attacking game this month.
RugbyPass and Stuff.co.nz both confirmed the story, with RugbyPass reporting the 80-Test centre did not train at all on Tuesday, though he remains expected to be available. Blair called Barrett “really important to us for the last couple of games and for the last few years as well.”
New Zealand Rugby’s side go in as strong favourites to extend a streak stretching back to 1994, but know a World No.3-ranked Ireland squad arrives with genuine belief they can end it — a threat that has already forced changes elsewhere in the All Blacks’ injury-hit squad depth this week. Confirmation of Barrett’s fitness is expected later in the week as selectors finalise their side for Saturday’s 7.10pm kick-off.
