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Sunday, 30 June, 2002, 04:53 GMT 05:53 UK
Little handed suspension
Nicky Little (left) tackles New Zealand's Tana Umaga
Little (left) tackles New Zealand's Tana Umaga
Fiji fly-half Nicky Little has been banned for three weeks for a high tackle on his opposite number Andrew Mehrtens in Saturday's Test against the All Blacks.

New Zealand won the match 68-18 but lost Tana Umaga with a knee injury and Leon MacDonald with a gash above his eye in a tough encounter with the physical Fijiians.

Mehrtens had come on as a replacement for MacDonald, who was injured in an accidental head clash with Fiji flanker Kole Sewabu in the 57th minute.

Little's tackle left a stunned Mehrtens with blood streaming from his nose and it was cited by Australia's H W Shand, the chairman of the judicial committee which sat on Sunday.

Little was playing his 40th match for Fiji, who have qualified for the Rugby World Cup with fellow Pacific Island nation Samoa.

After the match, All Blacks coach John Mitchell was critical of Fiji's "attitude to the game".

"The game has quite clear definitions and these things should be dealt with accordingly," he said.

Mehrtens was taken to hospital for treatment but should be cleared for action when the squad assemble for a training camp on Tuesday ahead of the Tri Nations series.

MacDonald, who required stitches in a head wound, has undergone tests for concussion, and will be reassessed over the next 24 hours.

Tana Umaga, meanwhile, is also being monitored carefully after taking a knock to his already heavily-strapped knee.

Coach John Mitchell will confirm on Monday the make-up of the squad which will face Australia in the Tri-Nations opener in Christchurch on 13 July.

See also:

29 Jun 02 | International
29 Jun 02 | International
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