Barrett out, Jane back for Canes

Beauden Barrett has been ruled out of the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby derby match against the Chiefs with a calf strain.

Barrett had been desperate to play on his home ground of Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth and carry on his comeback from a knee injury, but pulled up lame after the team’s Monday training session.

The Taranaki first five-eighth’s injury has taken some of the air out of a game that has been dubbed a grudge match in a region that switched allegiance from the Hurricanes to the Chiefs two years ago.

Unfortunately for the marketers, the Hurricanes have little to play for on the points table after booking a home semifinal last week with a big win over the Highlanders in Napier.

Barrett’s precautionary withdrawal came on the same day halfback Chris Smylie pulled a hamstring, meaning Taranaki captain James Marshall, who will take Barrett’s place at first-five, is the only local player in the Hurricanes starting side.

All Black midfielder Ma’a Nonu is on a mandatory rest week after taking the field against the Highlanders in honour of his fallen friend Jerry Collins, while star lock James Broadhurst has shifted to the reserves along with openside Ardie Savea to lighten their workload.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has made four personnel changes to his starting team with Cory Jane back from a hamstring injury to join fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder in the back three.

In the pack, Callum Gibbins replaces Savea on the side of the scrum, Brad Shields comes in at blindside for Blade Thomson, who twisted his ankle in Napier, and lock Mark Abbott takes Broadhurst’s place in the second row.

Boyd said Barrett could have played if it were a knockout match, but hadn’t been given the option after his calf injury was discovered.

‘‘He’ll be fine. He could potentially have played this week, but we have next week off and obviously the key game is a fortnight away.’’

Barrett had been desperate to play in front of family and friends, but Boyd said the decision had been in the hands of the medical staff.

Boyd said it had been a tricky squad to pick.

‘‘I notice the Stormers have picked what is basically a B side to play the Sharks, but they play next week [in the quarterfinal]. If it was a matter of resting guys for next week we probably would have done that too, but because there is no next week for us it’s a tricky balance between momentum and rest.’’

The Hurricanes reshuffle means halfback Frae Wilson comes into the reserves along with young fullback Sam McNicol for what could be his Super Rugby debut.