Rugby:Ireland are unlikely to face Ma'a Nonu when they meet New Zealand next month after the centre injured his knee playing for the Hurricanes against the Waratahs in the Super 14 last weekend.
Nonu ruptured the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in last Friday’s 32-16 loss in Sydney which ended the Hurricanes’ campaign.
At this stage it is not anticipated the hard-running inside centre will require surgery and he is expected to return to full training in approximately six weeks, meaning he will miss matches against Ireland on June 12th and also the doubleheader with Wales on June 19th and June 26th.
Andrew Hore is also likely to miss out after he dislocated his left shoulder midway through the first half of the disappointing defeat at the Sydney Football Stadium and is awaiting a decision on whether he will require surgery.
Depending on that outcome, the hooker will be out of action anywhere between six weeks to six months.
Nonu joins a growing list of senior players unavailable to All Blacks coach Graham Henry.
He is already without Hore, lock Ali Williams (Achilles) and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder) for the year because of injury, while full-back Mils Muliaina is recovering from a broken thumb.
Nonu was a key figure for the All Blacks last year and started in all but two of the 14 Tests.
Luke McAlister, who started at 12 when Nonu was rested, has been dogged by injury during the Blues’ Super 14 season and is not guaranteed to be fit come June.
Stephen Donald has also been used at inside centre by Henry but has had a mixed Super 14 season at the under-performing Chiefs, while Hurricanes utility and one-Test All Black Tamati Ellison is heading to Japan and is out of contention.
Blues back Stephen Brett, who was called into the All Blacks camp as injury cover last year but never used, is now firmly in the running when Henry names his 26-man squad at the end of the month.