Sport

Injured Lomu has to return home

New Zealand: Jonah Lomu is returning home for surgery after fracturing a cheek bone against France last weekend

Wed Nov 15 2000 - 00:00

New Zealand: Jonah Lomu is returning home for surgery after fracturing a cheek bone against France last weekend. He will miss the All Blacks' second test against France on Saturday in Marseille and the following Saturday's test against Italy.

The winger was injured in the All Blacks' 39-26 victory over France in Paris on Saturday and his cheek was badly swollen. Initial X-rays, scans and and checks on Monday had been encouraging but the player had since been feeling worse.

Lomu will be replaced in the squad by Caleb Ralph and a team spokesman said it was expected that Lomu would be back playing in time for the 2001 Super 12 competition, starting February 23rd.

France: Winger Thomas Lombard has pulled out of Saturday's Test against New Zealand with a knee injury. Lombard had a knee operation last season and his Stade Francais club doctor decided it was safer for him to withdraw.

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France coach Bernard Laporte has called veteran full back Jean-Luc Sadourny into the team. As a result, Xavier Garbajosa, who replaced first choice full back Thomas Castaignede in France's defeats against Australia and New Zealand earlier this month, may return to the wing.

Wales: Arwel Thomas has held onto the outhalf berth for Wales's international against the US in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Swansea number 10 keeps his place ahead of Neil Jenkins in a Wales side that shows four changes from the one which beat Samoa 50-6 on Saturday. Lock forward Chris Wyatt, prop Darren Morris, flanker Nathan Budgett and Dafydd James come into the team.

"This won't be the starting line-up to face South Africa the following week, so there are obviously places up for grabs," Wales coach Graham Henry said. He also said there was too much emphasis on who filled the number 10 shirt.

Wales (v USA): R Williams (Cardiff); A Bateman (Northampton), M Taylor (Swansea, capt), S Gibbs (Swansea), D James (Llanelli); A Thomas (Swansea), R Howley (Cardiff); D Morris (Swansea), G Jenkins (Swansea), B Evans (Swansea), I Gough (Newport), C Wyatt (Llanelli), N Budgett (Ebbw Vale), C Charvis (Swansea), S Quinnell (Llanelli). Replacements: N Jenkins (Cardiff), R Moon (Llanelli), G Lewis (Swansea), A Moore (Swansea), I Thomas (Ebbw Vale), A Lewis (Cardiff)