Mixed injury news for Canes

Beauden Barrett trained on Monday and is expected to play the Chiefs on Friday. The news isn’t as good for his regular Hurricanes halves partner, though.

Details from the team were scant, but it sounds as if halfback TJ Perenara suffered some medial ligament damage in the 38-37 win over the Sharks. Jamie Booth replaced him at halftime in that match and is preparing to start Friday’s derby at Westpac Stadium.

‘‘Beaudy’s all go today ... He’ll be easing into the week but we expect him to be right,’’ Hurricanes backs coach Jason Holland said.

‘‘TJ has presented really well this morning, better than we thought he would be on Friday.

‘‘But he’s still really touch and go for the weekend.’’

As a rule, if you can train Monday then you’re in contention to play on the weekend. If not, the Hurricanes scratch you and put their energy into the guys who are playing.

Booth’s certainly working under the assumption that he’ll be wearing No.9.

The Manawatu player had a mixed time of it against the Sharks, helping guide the team to a memorable victory but also having the odd box kick charged down.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said, after the match, that Booth’s team-mates were to blame for not protecting their halfback. Booth begged to differ.

‘‘Nah, I’ll take that on the chin,’’ Booth said.

The halfback’s view was there was a technical issue at play.

‘‘I’ll work on that today and tomorrow and Wednesday and sort it out for Friday.’’

Which would indicate Booth’s playing.

Whoever’s in the Hurricanes’ 23, they need to be better than they were against the Sharks.

‘‘There’s been a genuine dissatisfaction this morning ... but, at the end of the day, the composure we showed in that last play especially, to come back and put some phases together and put them away was pretty satisfying,’’ said Holland.

It’s easy to say Booth wasn’t perfect or first five-eighth Ihaia West ought to have done this or that. But Perenara and Beauden Barrett are so influential that most players will pale in comparison.

The fact is Booth and West got the team there in the end.