Monday Round-Up

End of Road For Nonu: All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has revealed that Ma’a Nonu’s 2014 season has come to a premature end, after the inside centre suffered a broken arm during New Zealand’s Rugby Championship clash with South Africa over the weekend. Speaking to the domestic press in New Zealand, Hansen said the injury was sustained when tackling opposite number and Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers, on around the 9th minute mark. However, despite breaking his arm, Nonu, played on until the half time interval before being replaced. The injury means that Nonu will be ruled out of the remainder of the All Blacks’ attempt at retaining their Rugby Championship title, including games against Argentina in a fortnight and South Africa on October 5th. Having undergone corrective surgery on Sunday, Nonu will also miss out on the tour of Britain and the United States in November. Head coach Steve Hansen is now expected to turn to one of Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa to partner Conrad Smith in midfield.

Dragons lock cited: Newport Gwent Dragons second row forward Andrew Coombs has been picked out by the citing commissioner over the weekend, for what is believed to be overly aggressive use of the boot. Coombs, who in recent years has broken onto the international scene courtesy of his physicality in the contact area, has been cited for an alleged stamp on an opponent which occurred in the 50th minute of the match. The incident occurred in the Dragons’ narrow 2 point loss to Welsh rivals the Ospreys at Rodney Parade, last Friday. A verdict is set to be reached within the coming days.

Michalak blow: Toulon will be without the services of maverick utility back Frederik Michalak for the coming months, after it was confirmed that the Frenchman had sustained a dislocated shoulder over the course of the weekend’s Top 14 action. Saturday saw the reigning European and domestic champions go down 28-24 at Stade Felix Mayol, to an impressive Stade Francais outfit, with news of injury to Michalak only compounding the bitter taste in Bernard Laporte’s mouth. Having sustained the injury to the same shoulder which underwent corrective surgery last year, it is expected Michalak will face a prolonged spell on the sidelines, with an estimated timeline of 8 weeks. Toulon boss Laporte also confirmed a knee injury to giant lock forward Romain Toafifenua, although the extent of his impending absence remains to be seen.

Ryan Sheady