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Nakaitaci facing six months out with ruptured ACL
By Christopher Devine
European Champions Cup semi-finalists Clermont Auvergne have been dealt a major blow with confirmation that France wing Noa Nakaitaci ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday's victory over Toulon.
Nakaitaci scored a crucial try as Clermont came on strong in the second half to triumph 29-9 and secure a last-four meeting with Leinster.
However, the Fiji-born 26-year-old was forced off following a freak incident towards the end of the game, in which he hurt his right knee when seemingly attempting to pull out of a tackle on a leaping Bryan Habana.
On Monday, Clermont - who sit second in the Top 14 - confirmed Nakaitaci was now facing six months on the sidelines.
"Scans this morning revealed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the right knee," read a statement on Clermont's website.
"In the evening, Noa Nakaitaci will meet Doctor van Hille at the Chataigneraie de Beaumont clinic to plan a very probable reconstructive surgery.
"The period of unavailability for such an injury is about six months. His 2016-17 season is over."
Clermont have already been shorn of another France international for the remainder of the campaign, after Wesley Fofana suffered a ruptured Achilles in a Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs in January.
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Latest Comments
If you want to be overly simplistic, then you can look at it like that.
AB’s lost at home by 8 vs Los Pumas, in my book that is a bigger loss than by 1 vs Ireland considering where they are in terms of quality.
Losing by a point away to Los Pumas with 11 changes is also acceptable given the exposure that new players got.
Go to commentsMarcus Smith perhaps, but not Finn Russel. He did nothing against the Springboks, whereas Marcus Smith was consistently outstanding in all the games he played. Had he stayed on the park against the All Blacks, then England would probably have won the game
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