Beauden Barrett has revealed just how close he came to being ruled out for the season, after a copping nasty blow to his heel against the Reds.
Barrett required 20 stitches after being cut by a stray boot sprig, keeping him out for the last two rounds of Super Rugby, but he's revealed it could've been much worse
The 32-year-old was moving freely at Blues training - any sign of the heel injury that’s plagued him since their win over the Reds is now gone.
"It's a deep cut with a fair amount of stitches in there," he said. "The concern was pushing the range and popping the stitches if my eagerness took over.
"But I was pretty patient."
And he had good reason to be. Barrett revealed just how close that stray sprig came to his Achilles tendon, and potentially ending his season.
"It was a spring straight across my Achilles. It did everything but get the tendon - so I was pretty lucky."
Barrett is eager to impose himself in Friday's quarter-final clash with NSW Waratahs and help the Blues turn a corner following a year of mixed form.
"It's been a turbulent season for the team," he continued. "We've felt frustrated at times.
"It's been a different road to the playoffs than last season."
But as knockout rugby arrives, Barrett's not ready for this to be his last outing at Eden Park
The 32-year-old will depart New Zealand for Japan next season, but today left the door open for a return in the future.
"It's all eventuating, it's happening, it's all positive," he said. "I'll let you know when I've got some news, but it's all positive."
Regardless of how their quarter-final plays out, it may not yet be Beauden Barrett's last dance in Blue.
Join Newshub at 7:30pm Friday for live updates of the Blues v Waratahs Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final
