All Blacks star Beauden Barrett out of Super Rugby qualifying final as Blues’ playoff task grows steeper

Wednesday, 3 June 2026

Beauden Barrett won’t feature in the Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final with a quad strain.

What: Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final, Crusaders v Blues. Where: One NZ Stadium, Christchurch. When: 4.35pm Saturday, Sky Sport 1.

With his form a topic of hot conversation, All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett won’t be able to help the Blues try and snap the Crusaders’ daunting home playoff record.

Barrett won’t feature in Saturday’s Super Rugby Pacific qualifying final in Christchurch, again missing with a quad strain. It will be the second straight game he has sat out after being sidelined for the Blues’ 59-34 thumping by the Chiefs last Saturday, which dropped them to fourth on the table and a playoff trip south.

The 144-test veteran’s form struggles have dominated rugby chat with Barrett dropped to the bench the last time they faced the Crusaders at the new indoor stadium last month, losing 36-20. Stephen Perofeta will wear the Blues’ No 10 jersey with captain and lock Patrick Tuipulotu and hooker Bradley Slater both returning.

“Everyone has that to deal with in life. It's not all rosy, that's for sure,” Barrett said earlier this week about the criticism.

Blues pivot Beauden Barrett looks on during his last trip to Christchurch against the Crusaders in May.

“Whatever that noise is, it's coming for you at the moment. I'm not sure what it is, but it is what it is.”

Prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi is set to become the most capped player in Blues history, running out for his 165th appearance, surpassing Keven Mealamu’s mark of 164 games.

The Crusaders can’t take a trick with injuries with All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell the latest casualty in a rapidly growing list of big name unavailabilites.

Newell will miss the qualifying final – the Crusaders’ first home playoff game at their new home– with a knee injury picked up on Friday against the Hurricanes.

Tighthead prop Seb Calder, who replaced Newell on Friday, also departed late in the game with a calf issue, and won’t feature against the Blues.

Fletcher Newell will miss the Crusaders’ qualifying final against the Blues with a knee injury.

The Crusaders were still awaiting the results of Newell’s knee scans on Tuesday when head coach Rob Penney spoke to media, but the fact he has already been scratched for the weekend is ominous.

Without Newell, the Crusaders will start Finlay Brewis at loosehead prop and move All Black George Bower to the tighthead side. Uncapped tighthead Gus Brown, who has played 13 NPC games for Canterbury since 2024, is poised for a Crusaders debut off the pine.

Newell left the game after 30 minutes against the Hurricanes after falling awkwardly in contact. He was able to walk from the field, but was clearly struggling and did not return.

Leicester Fainga'anuku returns at openside flanker for the Crusaders in the qualifying final after sitting out the final round.

The Crusaders will be without their first-choice All Blacks props with Tamaiti Williams (discitis in spine) already having been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, having only featured in two games this season.

Penney’s side have been rocked by injuries to big name players. Williams, Will Jordan (calf), and Scott Barrett (back surgery) are all sidelined for the Super Rugby Pacific season. Barrett is out for up to five months and will miss the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa in August-September, and likely the rest of the year.

They have also lost others to injury for decent chunks this season, including Chay Fihaki and George Bell, while loose forward Cullen Grace is yet to play this year with a knee injury.

The Crusaders welcome back powerhouse flanker Leicester Fainga’anuku and fellow loose forward Ethan Blackadder, who were rested against the Hurricanes. Taha Kemara gets the nod at first five after impressing against the Canes when he replaced Rivez Reihana (head injury assessment) early in the game.

Vern Cotter’s Blues have it all in front of them in the qualifying final taking on a Crusaders side with a remarkable 32-0 playoff record at home.

The Blues appeared on track to host a home qualifying final at Eden Park, but faltered badly down the stretch, losing their last three round games.

They have a woeful record in the Garden City, winning just twice in 21 games there since 2004. Their last victory in Christchurch came in 2022 when they held on to win 27-23, in a game Scott Barrett was sent off in.

Crusaders: Johnny McNicholl, Chay Fihaki, Dallas McLeod, David Havili (capt), Sevu Reece, Taha Kemara, Noah Hotham, Christian Lio-Willie, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Ethan Blackadder, Jamie Hannah, Antonio Shalfoon, George Bower, Codie Taylor, Finlay Brewis. Reserves: Manumaua Letiu, Jack Sexton, Gus Brown, Tahlor Cahill, Dom Gardiner, Kyle Preston, Rivez Reihana, Braydon Ennor.

Blues: Zarn Sullivan, AJ Lam, Xavi Taele, Pita Ahki, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Sam Nock, Malachi Wrampling, Anton Segner, Torian Barnes, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), Marcel Renata, Bradley Slater, Ofa Tu'ungafasi. Reserves: Eli Oudenryn, Mason Tupaea, Flyn Yates, Josh Beehre, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Corey Evans, Payton Spencer.