Rugby: Braid's concussion blow for Blues

Luke Braid will miss this week's match. Photo / Getty Images

Luke Braid is another concussion casualty for the Blues and will miss Saturday's match against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Braid suffered the injury during the 16-14 victory over the Brumbies at Eden Park last weekend and, worryingly for the flanker and the Blues, it is his second such problem of the season.

In his first case, the 26-year-old, who will leave to take up a contract at Bordeaux at season's end, was knocked unconscious in the defeat to the Hurricanes in Palmerston North last month when lock James Broadhurst kneed him in the head, an act which earned Broadhurst a one-week ban.

Before Braid was forced from the field last Friday against the Brumbies, he, Brendon O'Connor and Jerome Kaino formed a mobile and effective loose forward trio in the Blues' first victory of the season.

They did well to counter the turnover threat of David Pocock until the second half when the Wallabies openside came into his own. Pocock secured four turnovers in total compared with Kaino's two and Braid's one.

Steven Luatua, left on the reserves bench against the Brumbies at the end of a week in which he announced he was staying with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby rather than joining the overseas drift, would be a straightforward replacement for Braid, but coach John Kirwan might want to rest an individual who has played in all eight matches this season and has suffered more than his share of knocks.

Luatua suffered a shoulder stinger injury against the Hurricanes in round five and Kirwan may elect to rest him for the match under the roof in Dunedin for which the home side will be hot favourites.

Kirwan may give a starting spot to Akira Ioane, a 19-year-old who impressed hugely in pre-season, but with only three substitute appearances in the competition proper hasn't had much of an opportunity to continue with that form.

Concussion has been a big issue at the Blues this season, with three other players - Kaino, Tony Woodcock and Josh Bekhuis - suffering from it.

Woodcock has missed the last two matches because of it, with Kaino missing one after getting a head knock against the Lions, returning to the field after passing a test, and then failing a test the next day.

Bekhuis suffered the first concussion of his career against the Hurricanes and missed the next match.

The Blues, elated after their victory over the Brumbies which broke a nine-match losing streak, were also sore, with captain Kaino in particular after hurting his neck making a cover tackle on wing James Dargaville.

However, it appears Braid is the only major casualty.