All Blacks lose stalwarts ahead of Ireland clash

INJURY UPDATE: New Zealand stalwarts Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor were ruled out of this coming weekend’s Test against Ireland after sustaining head injuries in the 24-22 victory over England at Twickenham.

Coach Scott Robertson said the New Zealand medical staff deemed that flyhalf Barrett and hooker Taylor will undergo a mandatory 12-day stand down period after failing their head injury assessments and leaving the field during Saturday’s tense 24-22 defeat of England at Twickenham.

The duo will miss Friday’s Test against the world’s top ranked side, Ireland in Dublin but Robertson said they would come into contention for the following week’s clash against France in Paris, confirming they would be allowed to train in the week leading up.

Taylor’s Test against England lasted a mere six minutes with replacement Asafo Aumua playing the remainder of the match.

Barrett departed in the second-half after an influential display which included two conversions and a slick try assist to fullback Will Jordan.

Robertson admitted that the duo who shares 226 Test caps between them would be ‘missed’ in Dublin.

It will be the teams’ first meeting since the All Blacks beat Ireland in their World Cup quarterfinal in Paris a year ago.

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“Codie’s a world class hooker, among the best two or three in the world, and in great form,” Robertson told New Zealand media in a Zoom call on Sunday.

“Beauden was conducting the game pretty well, we thought, until the bang.

“They’ll be missed obviously but they’ll be around giving their wisdom and preparing the rest of the players.”

Damian McKenzie is likely to be entrusted with the No.10 jersey after coming off the bench to seal the victory with a touchline conversion kick following Mark Tele’a’s try moments before fulltime.

McKenzie started the first eight Tests of Robertson’s tenure but was demoted to the bench for New Zealand’s final Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Wellington last month – with the more composed Barrett favoured.

Robertson said he had no concern returning ‘the keys’ to McKenzie and said Aumua had ‘come of age’ in his Twickenham outing.

“He’s pretty laid back, D-Mac [Damian McKenzie], he’ll take whatever role is required. He’s had the keys for a period of time and he’s got them back in his hands now,” Robertson said.

“Asafo, it was a great moment for him. He’d worked really hard to make sure that when he got an opportunity like that, he took it.”

Robertson is set to call utility backs Ruben Love and Harry Plummer into the All Blacks squad as injury cover, along with a yet-to-be-named hooker.