Nonu's injury keeps centre debate on boil

Ma'a Nonu has been ruled out of New Zealand's Tri-Nations campaign for six weeks after fracturing a thumb, re-opening the door for new Auckland captain Sam Tuitupou.

The robust Hurricanes midfield back damaged the base of his left thumb playing club rugby in Wellington last Saturday. A scan in Christchurch yesterday revealed it will require surgery, sidelining him for at least the next three tests, starting with Australia at Jade Stadium on Saturday night.

Fitness issues would then likely rule him out for the fourth, on August 19 against the Wallabies at Eden Park. Their fifth match of the series is against South Africa in Pretoria on August 27.

Tuitupou won his seventh All Black cap against Argentina in Buenos Aires last week, but was one of nine players used in the early season tests against Ireland and Argentina to miss the cut for the Tri-Nations squad.

Nonu's absence highlights one of the main talking points surrounding the All Blacks this year: who will be entrusted to provide a permanent replacement to retired captain Tana Umaga at centre?

Nonu's injury merely reopens the debate. Nonu, Casey Laulala and Isaia Toeava filled the position in the three early season tests, before Laulala was omitted when the selectors named their 30-strong Tri-Nations squad.

Toeava, blooded by the All Blacks last year at fullback, retained his place in the squad, although many have tipped Mils Muliaina to fill the position in the opening Tri-Nations test, with Leon MacDonald to play in the No 15 jersey.

That scenario was supported by a newspaper report from Sydney yesterday which claimed Australian coach John Connolly was leaked the New Zealand starting XV for Saturday late last week.

The All Blacks had no comment to make on claims made in the Daily Telegraph that Connolly already knew about the All Blacks starting XV.

"We heard the team two days ago," Connolly said.

"Let's just say we heard it on the grapevine. It was named a couple of days ago to the players."

All Blacks management declined to comment although it was confirmed the squad as a whole were told of the starting XV at a gathering last Thursday.

The suggestion that the Wallabies have secured inside intelligence about their rivals is likely to trigger an investigation in the All Blacks camp.

It comes just weeks after England management went into meltdown on learning the Wallabies had been told of the tourists' team for the second test in Melbourne days before their public release.

"It wasn't off the wall for us," Connolly said.

"We expected MacDonald to be in so we anticipated that's what they'd do with Muliaina."

- NZPA