Mounga has feeling in fingers and toes

 

In hospital: Fifita Mounga

SAINT-ETIENNE, 27 September - USA number 8 Fifita Mounga has feeling in his fingers and toes after being stretchered off during his side's match with Samoa.

Mounga was taken to hospital on Wednesday night after suffering an injury in the second half of his side's 25-21 defeat in Saint-Etienne.

He has undergone tests for spinal injuries and received an MRI scan.

Coach Peter Thornburn spent the morning with him in hospital and said the prognosis was good.

"He is comfortable, he has feeling in his extremities, but there is doubt about when he can be moved."

It is likely that Mounga will not travel with the team to Montepellier for their match against South Africa on Sunday.

His return to the USA with the team on Sunday is also in doubt and he will instead be cared for by Dr Bruce Miller, the teams' doctor, in Saint-Etienne.

Members of the team have taken the loss of Mounga, one of their most senior players, hard.

Captain Mike Hercus said it was difficult to see one of his players injured.

"I've had it (players injured) before, but probably not as worried as I was yesterday about Fifita because he is a genuinely hard man who has been an amazing competitor for years and to see him like that was pretty scary."

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