Star first-five Beauden Barrett has suffered another head injury, during the Blues' 32-25 Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Highlanders at Dunedin.
Struggling with concussion since the All Blacks' northern tour last year, Barrett was making his first start for the Blues this season and scored a first-half try that had them well in control at the break.
But soon after the restart, he took a heavy knock trying to tackle powerful Highlanders centre Fetuli Paea and stayed down as play continued.
Barrett was eventually escorted off the field, replaced by Stephen Perofeta, and did not return from his head injury assessment.
Until his exit, the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year had showed how his presence could ignite the all-star Blues backline, scoring his try off an attacking scrum that went wrong, but salvaged by quick-thinking halfback Sam Nock, who switched the direction of attack and presented his No.10 an open run to the corner.
That try put the Blues into the break 18-6 ahead, but after Barrett's exit, the Highlanders - still seaking their first win of the season - roared back at the visitors and almost closed that deficit midway through the second half.
Prop Daniel Lienert-Brown had scored to bring his team within seven points (25-18) and from the kickoff, halfback Aaron Smith put up a high kick that bounced back to the Highlanders, so Smith repeated his effort deep into Blues territory.
The bounce completely undid winger Caleb Clarke and fell to opposite Mosese Dawai, who gathered the ball and raced away to score. As Mitch Hunt lined up his conversion, referee Mike Fraser got a whisper in his ear and went back to review the build-up.
Replays showed Dawai had knocked the ball forward from Smith's initial kick, so the try - and the chance to pull level - was ruled out.
Moments later, Perofeta sliced through the Highlanders defence for a try that put the Blues two converted tries clear.
Blues 32 (Clarke, Sotutu, Perofeta & Barrett tries, Barrett conversion & 2 penalties, Perofeta 2 conversions) Highlanders 25 (Gilbert 2 & Lienert-Brown try, Hunt 2 penalties & 2 conversions)
More to come
