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

The 33-year-old has started two of the last three meetings at center back against the Wallabies and England, impressing in both as they won 33-13 and 24-22 respectively.

Barrett he usurped McKenziewho started the year as first choice number 10 and was in the XV for the first eight games of the season.

However, he was benched towards the end of the Rugby Championship, with All Blacks centurion taking over.

Failing his HIA

Following his display at Twickenham, Barrett would likely have kept his place had he been fit, but after failing an HIA following his departure from the pitch in the 67th minute, the head coach Scott Robertson confirmed that he will miss the huge meeting with 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 the role, but it should now provide another opportunity for McKenzie.

“He’s pretty laid back, DMac, he’ll take whatever role is needed. 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 highly unlikely to be trusted in a game of this magnitude.

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

The Blues star started for the second-string side against Munster, who claimed a 38-24 triumph at Thomond Park, but could be recalled with the All Blacks playing in Dublin next Friday.

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Other concerns

Barrett is not the only absentee for the game against Ireland, 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 team-mate, will not recover in time for a repeat of last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

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

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

“Beauden ran the game pretty well, we thought, until the blowout.

“They’ll be missed, obviously, but they’ll be around to impart their wisdom and prepare the rest of the players.”

The head coach added: “Asafo, it was a great moment for him. He worked hard to make sure that when he got an opportunity like that, he took advantage of it.”

Behind the front row, Robertson could also have the decision to block after Tupou Vaa’i limped off a minute into the second half.

The head coach is bullish on Vaa’i’s chances of making the Ireland game, but his replacement Patrick Tuipulotu has been absolutely outstanding off the bench.

Tuipulotu could very well play in the XV regardless of whether the 24-year-old makes it to the big meeting in Dublin.

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