Four Nations
Dates: 23 October - 13 November
Coverage: Live coverage and highlights on BBC One and BBC Two, BBC Sport website and BBC 5 live sports extra
 Vatuvei only lasted two minutes and did not even touch the ball |
New Zealand will be a man short for the rest of the Four Nations series after it was confirmed that Manu Vatuvei broke his arm in the win over England. The New Zealand Warriors winger injured his arm in a tackle on England's Michael Shenton in only the second minute of Saturday's 24-10 win. Teams are not allowed to replace squad members once the tournament has begun. "I need surgery to have a rod inserted and I've been told I might have a cast on for six weeks" said Vatuvei. The game against England was just his second Test appearance since the Anzac Test against Australia in May 2009.  | 606: DEBATE |
He was regarded as one of New Zealand's most dangerous players, having scored 20 tries in 19 NRL appearances for the Warriors this year. "I didn't realise it was broken at first," he said. "I went in to assist Junior [Sa'u] in a tackle and my arm hit Michael Shenton's elbow. "It was our trainer who told me I'd broken my arm. I didn't see any of the game but I heard it on the radio. I didn't want to stay at the ground. I was a bit upset and disappointed." New Zealand still have three specialist wingers - Jason Nightingale, Sam Perrett and the uncapped Antonio Winterstein - in the squad as they prepare for next Saturday's match against Papua New Guinea in Rotorua. "It's very sad for Manu," said coach Stephen Kearney. "It didn't look like a great deal in the tackle but he's come out of it with a broken arm."
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