Beauden Barrett

Hot on the heels of their upset win over his former team, the All Blacks star has joined his new Super Rugby side on the training paddock for the first time this week.

The return of the Blues' marquee signing and former Hurricanes No 10 from an extended break has arrived slightly earlier than some expected.

As much as he relished his post-Rugby World Cup holiday, Barrett said there was a clear moment when his mindset shifted.

"It was a really good break, until Super Rugby kicked off in round one and then my feet started to get itchy.

 Barrett, who ditched the Hurricanes for the Blues for this season, is yet to pull on his boots in a competitive match in 2020.

His first match in five months will be for Coastal Rugby Club in Taranaki, when they take on Southern at Rahotu.

"We're playing Southern, which is a big derby match for us, so it always draws a large crowd," Coastal's chairwoman Janet Fleming told Newshub.

"Having Beauden playing in it is likely to pack the ground out completely."

Barrett was at Blues training Wednesday to meet several of his new teamates after his shift from the Hurricanes.

He made a brief appearance at pre-season training but has been taking and extended break from the game in the wake of the World Cup.

"He's in today to have a look around and see how we are going. We can check on him and see how he's going so it's good to have him back around," said assistant coach Tom Coventry.

Coach Leon MacDonald told reporters in Auckland on Friday that Barrett had attended some training sessions with his new team mates but was not expected "on the grass" until mid-April.

Barrett signed a four-year contract with the Blues in July, ending an eight-year association with the Hurricanes. The contract allowed him the extended break ahead of the 2020 season and also the option to pursue a short-term deal in Japan.

He could make his debut for the Blues in Week 11 of the competition, when they face the Hurricanes on April 11.

A South African supporter spotted All Blacks fullback Barrett nudging the ball with his foot while referee Nic Berry had his back turned during the 16-all draw in the Cake Tin last weekend, and posted TV footage of the incident on social media.

Feedback from fans online didn't lack heat.

Barrett – a two-time World Rugby Player of the Year – has penned a four-year contract to keep him in New Zealand through to the end of the 2023 World Cup.

But the 28-year-old and 73-cap New Zealand international will represent the Blues at club level from 2020, leaving Super Rugby rivals the Hurricanes, where he broke through in 2011.

The complex new contract will see first five-eighth Barrett join the Blues midway through the 2020 season, however, as he takes an extended break from rugby at the end of this year.

The All Blacks tries began with turnovers deep in their team's own half with Retallick and Barrett the finishers, with the others scored by Ireland number eight CJ Stander and Scotland's New Zealand born winger Sean Maitland.

Barrett, the 2016 and 2017 World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year, is bidding to become the first player to win the Try of the Year award twice after receiving it in 2013 for his try against France.

Both Barrett and Fifita suffered their concussions in last night's 26-13 win over France in Wellington.

Barrett's incident occurred in the 12th minute of the match when he collided in mid air with France fullback Ben Fall.

Fall was red carded for the incident because Barrett landed on his neck and head.

Coach Steve Hansen says both Barrett and Fifita will stay in Wellington tonight and will be monitored throughout the week.

Hansen said a decision will be made later in the week on whether they'll join the group in Dunedin ahead of Saturday's test.

The skilful fly-half joins All Blacks great Richie McCaw as the only player to have retained the award, while Barrett, McCaw and the great Dan Carter are the only three to have won the prize more than once.

Barrett enjoyed another stellar year in international rugby, helping New Zealand retain the Rugby Championship, while he was also a part of the side that drew a thrilling series with the British and Irish Lions 1-1.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd confirmed Barrett missed the Hurricanes' 34-20 win over the Bulls in Pretoria, because of headaches.

It means one of the All Blacks' key men for next month's Lions series will need to pass concussion protocols to be cleared to face the Force on Saturday night.

Flanker Ardie Savea is another, along with lock Mark Abbott, after both suffered concussion symptoms on Sunday and would appear unlikely to play against the Force.