Easterby set to miss Tests

Injury news: Simon Easterby is extremely doubtful for next month's November internationals against New Zealand, Australia and Romania after suffering a badly broken nose while captaining Welsh club Llanelli in Saturday's Heineken European Cup match in Toulouse.

The Scarlets captain sustained the injury just 10 minutes into the 50-28 defeat, requiring an operation immediately after the incident occurred.

"It was a nasty break," said Llanelli director of rugby Gareth Jenkins. " . . . He will be missed by us and by Ireland in their autumn internationals."

A potential replacement for the Lions blindside flanker would be Alan Quinlan but he too is unavailable in the coming weeks, possibly months, after damaging a knee playing for Munster against Sale on Friday night. Quinlan sees a specialist tomorrow.

His Munster teammate Paul O'Connell will have the plaster removed from a fractured bone in a hand today but is also unlikely to recover in time for the autumn Tests. Both players are definitely unavailable for Saturday's match against Castres at Thomond Park.

Leinster are sweating on the availability of Will Green for Sunday's tie against Glasgow at Hughenden after the English tighthead missed the weekend defeat to Bath with a chest infection. There is better news about Robert Kearney, who was taken off late on against Bath. Manager Paul McNaughton confirmed the injury was cramp.

There is a chance of Eric Miller recovering from an ankle injury.

Following the injury sustained during Ulster's match against Treviso last Friday night, Isaac Boss yesterday had a scan on his left calf. Boss will miss this weekend's match against Biarritz.

France centre Damien Traille has been ruled out of the November internationals with a fractured arm, his club Biarritz said yesterday. He sustained the injury during the 22-10 defeat at Saracens on Sunday. France play Australia on November 5th before hosting Canada, Tonga and South Africa on the next three Saturdays.