Beauden Barrett’s knee will decide if Otere Black’s boarding pass reads Napier or Italy on Wednesday.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said Barrett remained a 50/50 chance of playing against the Highlanders in Napier on Friday.
Barrett has been out for a month with a knee injury but if he is fit to play, Black will be on a plane to Italy to join the New Zealand Under 20s for their second game of the Under 20 World Championship on Saturday against Argentina.
If Barrett is ruled out, then Black will remain with the Hurricanes and fly with the team to Napier.
The news that the Highlanders plan to rest All Blacks Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa for Friday’s game came as news to Boyd, who said it changed nothing about their plans.
Ma’a Nonu is still due to have a week out for All Blacks rest, but Boyd said a decision on whether it would be this week, or in their final game against the Chiefs, had not been made.
The Hurricanes will play the Highlanders at 7.35pm this Friday.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
