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September 14, 2014

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Nonu injury clouds Kiwis’ Boks victory

THE All Blacks injury toll continued to rise yesterday with key inside center Ma’a Nonu taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm in their brutal 14-10 win over the Springboks.

It was a no-holds barred clash of the sport’s two heavyweights who are bitter rivals, with the win in Wellington putting the All Blacks on the cusp of claiming the southern hemisphere crown for a third consecutive year.

They need to win just one of their two remaining games, away to Argentina — which has not won a game in this competition — and South Africa to be assured of the title.

The veteran Nonu, a blockbusting No. 12 playing his 94th Test, suffered the injury 10 minutes from half-time but played through the pain barrier until being replaced before the start of the second half.

“We’ve got a pretty good idea of Ma’a’s prognosis,” coach Steve Hansen said. “We think it’s probably broken.”

Utility Ben Smith, who started on the wing and has also played tests at fullback and outside center, covered for Nonu for the remainder of the game.

Fortunately for the All Blacks, Nonu’s understudy Ryan Crotty, who suffered a fractured jaw in their second test against Australia, is due to rejoin the squad this week.

However, locks Sam Whitelock and Dominic Bird, and loose forwards Liam Messam and Jerome Kaino have already been injured out of the championship while flyhalf Dan Carter and lock Luke Romano have not been available at all through the series.

In Gold Coast, Australia‚ skipper Michael Hooper scored tries at the start of each half to help Australia to a 32-25 win over Argentina yesterday.

Australia had most of the early chances and led 14-7 at halftime with three penalty goals from Bernard Foley and Hooper’s third-minute try. Manuel Montero scored for Argentina, briefly giving the Pumas the lead, after a solo 60-meter run in the 7th.




 

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