Damian McKenzie looks set to take the reins as fly-half for the Ireland clash after Beauden Barrett suffered a head injury on Saturday.

The 33-year-old has started two of the last three games in the center position against the Wallabies and England, impressing in both cases to win 33-13 and 24-22 respectively.

Barrett usurped McKenziewho started the year as first choice number 10 and featured in the XV in the first eight matches of the season.

However, he was dropped to the bench towards the end of the Rugby Championship, with the All black people the centurion takes over.

Failed HIA

After his performance at Twickenham, Barrett would probably have retained his place if fit but, after failing an HIA following his 67th-minute departure, head coach Scott Robertson has confirmed he will miss the huge clash against Ireland.

Due to return to play protocols, the playmaker will not be ready in time to face Andy Farrell’s men at the Aviva Stadium.

It’s a blow for New Zealand, with the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year looking settled into his role, but it should now give McKenzie another opportunity.

“He’s pretty laid back, DMac, he’ll take on whatever role is required.” He’s had the keys for a while and he’s got them back in his hands now,” Robertson told reporters.

Harry Plummer, Stephen Perofeta and Ruben Love are other possible options, but they are very unlikely to be trusted in a match of this magnitude.

Perofeta and Love were both named in the wider squad for the Autumn Nations Series while Plummer, who briefly featured in the Rugby Championship, was chosen in the All Blacks XV group.

The Blues star started for the second-row side against Munster as they secured a 38-24 triumph at Thomond Park, but he could be recalled given the All Blacks play in Dublin next Friday.

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Other concerns

Barrett is not the only one missing from the Ireland game, with Codie Taylor also suffering a head injury in the 24-22 win over England.

Taylor was replaced by Asafo Aumua early on and, like his teammate, will not recover in time to repeat last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

This means Aumua is expected to start next weekend with the inexperienced George Bell expected to be added to the substitutes.

“Codie is a world-class whore, top two or three in the world and in great shape,” Robertson said.

“Beauden led the match pretty well, we thought, until the bang.

“We will obviously miss them, but they will be there to give their wisdom and prepare the rest of the players.”

The head coach added: “Asafo, it was a great moment for him. He had worked very hard to make sure that when he had an opportunity like this, he would take it.

Behind the top line, Robertson could also have the decision to lock on after Tupou Vaa’i limped off a minute into the second half.

The head coach is optimistic about Vaa’i’s chances of featuring in the Ireland match, but his replacement, Patrick Tuipulotu, has been absolutely exceptional off the bench.

Tuipulotu could well have played his part in the XV, whether or not the 24-year-old qualifies for the big meeting in Dublin.

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