Now Nonu’s a goner
3 Jul 2006
Ma’a Nonu has been ruled out of New Zealand’s Vodacom Tri Nations campaign for six weeks with a fractured thumb.
The utility back damaged the base of his left thumb playing club rugby in Wellington on Saturday, and a scan in Christchurch on Monday revealed it will require surgery.
The injury will sideline Nonu for at least New Zealand’s opening three Tri-Nations Tests. Fitness issues would then likely rule him out for the fourth, on 19 August against Australia in Auckland.
Their fifth match of the series is against South Africa in Pretoria on 27 August.
The All Blacks selectors were due to meet on Monday night to discuss naming a replacement.
Nonu’s enforced absence highlights one of the main talking points surrounding the All Blacks this year – who will be entrusted to provide a permanent replacement to retired captain Tana Umaga at centre.
Mils Muliania is expected to wear the No 13 jersey against Australia, with Aaron Mauger at 12.
15 Comments
3 Jul 2006, 09:19 am
wonder if they will call another player up…muliana or toeva, should be interesting
3 Jul 2006, 09:20 am
Hmmm , Aussies are going to beat the All Blacks on Saturday. They are playing beter than the All Blacks at the moment. They are doing something right at the moment. Even old man Gregan are playing beter rugby than last year.
3 Jul 2006, 10:38 am
i said it last year when they were sucking, never trust them aussies. just when u think they suck, they will come back to bite you.
3 Jul 2006, 12:07 pm
Thank goodness for that – he is a handfull to defend against that bugger!
3 Jul 2006, 13:11 pm
Nonu & Toeava were both surprise selection to me, I would have taken Laulala and Tuitupou over those two, but then again Nonu is a handful for any opposition, but you have got to know how to defend and thats my biggest concern with Nonu. Laulala is a better more complete centre, does not have the speed as the likes of the other centres in the 3N, but offers stability and especially that crusader combo with Mauger and Carter inside him and Gear on the outside. Toeava is not ready IMO for this level of rugby, leave him for the Air NZ cup, Anthony Tuitavake is a much better player than Toeava. Muliaina is a good option for 13, he can defend well, attack well, great at creating space for the speed merchants and can be a 5th option kicker if needed (most likely not). Weepu, Carter, Mauger, Mils, Gear, Howlett, McDonald would be my ideal backline set up, all gamebreakers and great at defending.
3 Jul 2006, 13:17 pm
i wonder if this will force gh hands. if there is 1 position where they do not real depth, its outside centre. i just wonder why he didnt give mils muliaina game time at 13. i think this guy may just suprise us when his team is announced tomorrow.
3 Jul 2006, 13:22 pm
I hope Mils gets the 13 jersey, I cannot see anyone else taking the spot, unless Laulala has been sneaked in under the radar, but we will see.
3 Jul 2006, 17:22 pm
Tuitupo has been called up. At least they have depth that neither the Ozzies nor the Bokkies has. Would not make a difference. Compare our situation with Barry with all his experience replacing De Villiers and making a fool of himself. The AB’s have deliberately developed depth in all positions to allow for emergencies like this. Doesn’t seem like Jake & Co have taken note.
3 Jul 2006, 21:26 pm
Another Chiefs player in … excellent!
Shame none of them are real Waikato boys.
But will you lot shut up about Laulala! He plays outside Carter and Mauger, inside Gear and Ralph and in front of McDonald. Perhaps it is rather easy to look good in such a combination, no? Frankly he looks rather pedestrian to me. Solid, but pedestrian.
3 Jul 2006, 21:30 pm
Tend to agree Chiefs, pity conrad smith isn’t about – fine player
3 Jul 2006, 22:28 pm
Ig, I think he’s on the mend, training with Wellington again now
Why are players like Nonu and Giteau playing club rugby? It’s not like they’re short of gametime and need to do it to maintain match fitness.
3 Jul 2006, 23:59 pm
I think Nonu needed the game practise. He gets all sloppy on defence and starts to drop the ball when he doesn’t play for a while.
Also he might not be cold now, but if he warms the test bench for a few weeks (as was likely until the break) he sure would have been.
4 Jul 2006, 02:09 am
Fair call Cheify
tho he isn’t gonna get much game practise now is he!
I still wonder if Nonu can play without Tana. I have never seen him have a great game except when Tana has been beside him. This years S14 was a very good example of this.
4 Jul 2006, 05:14 am
He was rubbish any way. Make up and all.
4 Jul 2006, 07:58 am
Easy there mate
Ma’ascara he may have been but on form he is the worlds best line breaker
Y’know the funny thing about this club game, is that it was the one game ACC (NZ’s accident prevention Commission) decided to go to and film a teaching video showing everyone how to avoid sports injuries!!
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