Super Rugby
Nonu setback for Hurricanes
ESPNscrum Staff
April 26, 2011
Hurricanes centre Ma'a Nonu sits on the sidelines after being sent off, Hurricanes v Highlanders, Super Rugby, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, February 18, 2011
Hurricanes centre Ma'a Nonu has endured a trying season thus far © Getty Images
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The Hurricanes have been rocked by the news that Ma'a Nonu suffered a fractured eye socket in Saturday's 40-24 Super Rugby defeat by the Sharks.

The All Blacks centre will now sit out this weekend's meeting with the Reds in Wellington, a major blow for the struggling 'Canes, who have also lost Cory Jane (hamstring) and Serge Lilo (ankle) to injury.

The men from Wellington have now lost six of their nine games so far this season, meaning they are in real danger of equaling their worst ever showing in Super rugby, which came in 1996 when they were beaten eight times in total.

Hurricanes boss Mark Hammett believes that Saturday's defeat in Durban perfectly illustrated just why his team has struggled so badly this season.

"A lot of teams are beating us through our simple mistakes," he said. "We drop a kick-off, throw an intercept pass and then get a yellow card near full-time, that didn't help."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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