Canterbury blow: Nasi Manu out
Canterbury will be without big number eight Nasi Manu for Saturday's ITM Cup semi-final clash with Taranaki in Christchurch.
The defending champions are also sweating on the availability of star flank Matt Todd, who is likely join Manu on the sideline after both players suffered knee injuries.
Todd has played in all of Canterbury's 10 matches leading into the semi-finals while Manu has missed just one.
"Nasi Manu is no good for this weekend and Matt Todd is really doubtful," Canterbury head coach Tabai Matson told Sportal.
"They're a big loss but as has happened all year the guys who have come onto or off the bench have done a really good job so we're really confident they'll know what to do."
Canterbury, who have won four ITM Cup titles on the trot and bidding for a fifth consecutive final, have been boosted with news that full-back Johnny McNicholl should be fit to play.
The competition's leading try-scorer suffered a wrist injury in last Sunday's 63-22 win against Bay of Plenty.
"He has pulled through really well over the last 48 hours so we're hopeful that he will be available and be selected on Thursday," said Matson.
Comments
three6three6 says...
Now, what would happen should Australia target real NZ talent.... starting with someone such as Manu? Now that would warrant a complaint from the likes of Hansen. Manu is a reasonable player but he has slipped behind younger players in the national selector's plans. By all accounts he turned in a very good Super Rugby season. He was also a very fine age grade player - being one of the star players in the U19 and U20 teams that won world honours.
Posted 02:42 28th October 2012
Capedcrusader says...
Manu plays for The Highlanders in Super Rugby so no issue with him warming the bench unless Read was selected to play in the ITM cup which is highly unlikely
Posted 09:15 18th October 2012
Houston_11 says...
Manu is 24. Read is only 26!!! Plenty of miles left in the tank!
Posted 13:00 17th October 2012
cuw3100 says...
Am I correct to say Manu is less than 24 years old ?
Pity 'coz the way Read is playing now all others can hope for is a bench spot.
And Read is less than 30 right?
Posted 07:51 17th October 2012