Barrett concern for NZ ahead of Lions tour

PRETORIA: New Zealand have a new injury concern ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour after flyhalf Beauden Barrett was a late withdrawal from the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby clash with the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday having complained of mystery headaches.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said the decision to withdraw Barrett was made after doctors were unable to isolate the reasons for his condition.

Barrett had taken a blow to his head in the 61-7 victory over the Cheetahs in Wellington on May 20, but had passed a concussion test at the time.

“When we came over here (to South Africa) he’s had some headaches and the doctor was unable to differentiate between the altitude, the humidity, the air conditioning ... because when you come over here on a short turnaround, the headaches and those types of symptoms are pretty normal,” Boyd said.

“But the fact that he couldn’t isolate those out from the backend of the game against the Cheetahs meant that we were very cautious and withdrew him out of the game,” he was quoted by stuff.co.nz as saying after his side’s 34-20 victory over the Bulls.

The Hurricanes have already lost captain Dane Coles, who has been missing since the middle of March, to similar symptoms, but Boyd says the circumstances around Barrett’s case are different as Coles’ problems arose after he exercised.

Barrett is the incumbent flyhalf for the world champions All Blacks, who play the first of three eagerly anticipated Tests against the touring Lions on June 24. Reuters