Beauden Barrett suffered an injury against the Reds. Photo / Photosport
Blues 45
Reds 26
Beauden Barrett endured mixed emotions on Friday night in Brisbane as he shook off a form funk to revive the stuttering Blues season, only to spark fears after hobbling off with a concerning injury.
Maybe Barrett heard the sustained chatter about his lack of influence this season as the World Cup approaches. The way he banished the hesitant tendencies from first receiver to create the Blues opening try and score their second in a dominant victory against the Reds suggested he knew a notable performance was needed.
Yet just as the Australian commentators lauded Barrett’s impact, he departed with a lower leg injury the Blues and All Blacks will now sweat on. Barrett did not return early in the second half after a brace – following a brilliant Mark Telea breakout and grubber – eluded his grasp.
Barrett has struggled with several Achilles issues in recent years. Three weeks out from the Super Rugby playoffs, four months out from the World Cup, another flare up of that injury would be a major concern.
The 31-year-old, who had his ankle strapped on the sideline at the end of the match, is scheduled to serve his second All Blacks rest week before the playoffs but the Blues will hope this blow does not rule him out any longer.
Widely scrutinised for a notably quiet campaign for the Blues, Barrett found his groove after taking a heavy knock with his first carry. Immediately after that he engaged the line – a trait largely absent this season – to suck in defenders and send Cameron Suafoa through a hole for Zarn Sullivan’s opening strike.
Eight minutes later Barrett was at it again to instigate a sweeping short side play. Telea stood up his opposite, Filipo Daugunu, with ease to burst into space and Barrett loomed up on the inside to finish the try.
Barrett clearly enjoys playing Australian opposition. While he struggled last week with the lack of go-forward and the Crusaders swarming defence, his other standout performance this year came in the Blues rout of the Rebels.
The All Blacks centurion wasn’t alone in savouring the greater freedom by frequently exploiting the Reds rush defence. AJ Lam ran rampant from the left wing before injuring his ankle early in the second half.
All Blacks wing Telea was prominent throughout, always beating the first defender. Bryce Heem thrived from the midfield. Suafoa, Hoskins Sotutu and stand-in captain Patrick Tuipulotu carried strongly, too.
Twice leading by 10 points in the first half the Blues were guilty of allowing the Reds back into the contest to hold a 17-14 halftime advantage that did not reflect their dominance.
Sullivan stepped up in Barrett’s absence to guide the Blues to a 31-14 lead and while a late yellow card to lock James Tucker helped the Reds respond, Heem and Telea combined to finish the job.
This victory for the Blues, achieved while resting All Blacks Rieko Ioane, Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke and Ofa Tuungafasi, and with captain Dalton Papali’i serving a three-week suspension, temporarily lifts Leon MacDonald’s men into the top four and within reach of a home quarter-final.
With the Hurricanes and Highlanders to conclude the regular season at Eden Park the Blues will hope to maintain that position for the playoffs.
Having lost four of their five games against the top teams this year, though, the Blues still have much to prove.
For the Reds, their seventh defeat serves an immediate, humbling comedown from handing the Chiefs their first loss of the year in New Plymouth last week.
In many respects Brad Thorn’s final home match summed up his patchy six-year tenure.
Blues 45 (Zarn Sullivan, Beauden Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Mark Telea, Taufa Funaki tries; Barrett 2 cons, pen, Plummer 4 cons)
Reds 26 (Josh Flook, Sef Fa’agase, Harry Wilson, Jock Campbell tries; Lawson Creighton 3 cons)
HT: 17-14