The New Zealand outside half, World Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2016, took a knock to the head in his side’s Rugby Championship win over the Springboks in Cape Town last week. Despite passing concussion tests after leaving the field in the first half of the 25-24 victory he reported of feeling unwell.
He did not return to the field and has since been suffering headaches and minor dizziness. Although he trained in Brisbane, head coach Steve Hansen has ensured that player welfare comes before everything else in his team selection.
“It’s one of those things. Head knocks are pretty complicated. We’ve had guys that have failed it because they can’t remember the numbers and they’re as good as gold the next day,” Hansen told reporters in Brisbane.
“The system is there to protect the player and in this case he passed it, but the doc said he wasn’t feeling great so we protected him. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the system, and in our doctor.
“We’ve got a lot of understanding of what we will and won’t do with our players when they are injured and we’re clear about it.
“Early in the week we discovered Beauden wasn’t quite right so we’re not prepared to risk him. He trained well today in the earlier session with some weights and the doc is pretty happy with where he is at.”
Barrett’s misfortune means Lima Sopoaga is set to don the No 10 jersey with Richie Mo’unga heading to Australia to act as back-up.
This is the last Test for the All Blacks before they head north for their end of season tour, which includes a game against Wales at the Principality Stadium in the third of four games in the Under Armour Series. The game is already a sell-out.
The Wallabies, meanwhile, have stuck with the team that beat Argentina to clinch the runners-up spot in the Rugby Championship with Rob Simmons coming into the second row to replace the injured Izack Rodda. Simmons’ place on the bench goes to Ned Hanigan.
Michael Cheika’s side may have lost the Bledisloe Cup already after suffering tow defeats to their biggest rivals in the Rugby Championship, but their third tilt at the world champions is being seen as a chance to build on an encouraging championship.
Australia are Wales’ first opponents in the Under Armour Series in the Welsh capital on Saturday, 11 November. The Wallabies have won the last 12 games between the two countries.
Australia: Israel Folau; Marika Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Reece Hodge; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Scott Sio, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Adam Coleman, Jack Dempsey, Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon
Reps: Stephen Moore, Tom Robertson, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Tui, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, Samu Kerevi, Henry Speight.
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Waisake Naholo, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Kane Hames.
Reps: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili.
Under Armour Series 2017 – BUY TICKETS HERE
WALES v AUSTRALIA – Saturday, 11 November 2017 (17:15)
WALES v GEORGIA – Saturday, 18 November 2017 (14:30)
WALES v NEW ZEALAND – Saturday, 25 November 2017 (17:15) SOLD OUT
WALES v SOUTH AFRICA – Saturday, 2 December 2017 (14:30)
