RUGBY: FIJI avoided a diplomatic incident yesterday by excluding army officer Leone Nakarawa from the squad that faces the All Blacks in Dunedin on Friday.
New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully made it clear that no Fijian soldier or government official would be allowed entry to the country while sanctions remain due to the 2006 military coup by Voreqe Bainimarama.
This will be upheld, McCully stated, until there is a return to clear democratic procedures on the island.
The All Blacks are expected to rest all their Canterbury Crusaders, except captain Richie McCaw who missed most of the season through injury, for the Tri-Nations warm-up.
It means Colin Slade will start at outhalf so Graham Henry, and the rest of the world, can examine the worst-case scenario: Dan Carter getting injured. Ma’a Nonu is likely to start at inside centre ahead of Sonny Bill Williams.
