Rugby Championship: All Blacks star Beauden Barrett cleared of injury, available for selection against South Africa, after sickening mid-air collision
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/08/rugby-championship-all-blacks-star-beauden-barrett-cleared-of-injury-available-for-selection-against-south-africa-after-sickening-mid-air-collision.html
Beauden Barrett collected in mid-air by Kurt-Lee Arendse. Credits: Image - Getty Images, video - Newshub/Sky Sports
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All Blacks star Beauden Barrett is expected to be fit and available for selection for the second test against South Africa this weekend, after escaping injury from his sickening mid-air collision during the first-test loss.
Barrett was taken out by Kurt Lee-Arendse while contesting a high ball during the 26-10 defeat at Mbombela, tumbling headfirst into the Mbombela Stadium turf in a hearts-in-mouth moment.
The Springboks wing was red-carded by referee Angus Gardner for the incident, as Barrett - after laying prone for a few moments - eventually left the field on his own accord, but was immediately replaced.
Coach Ian Foster said Barrett had undergone scans and was cleared of serious injury, but would be monitored closely throughout the week, before any firm decision was made on his availability.
But Barrett has informed Newshub that - much to his own surprise, given the severity of the fall - he's suffered no lingering pain whatsoever in his neck and is ready to go for Sunday's (NZ time) rematch at Johannesburg.
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