Ma'a Nonu

Highlanders midfielder Ma'a Nonu has escaped further punishment for his ugly shoulder charge on former team-mate Piri Weepu.

Nonu was yellow-carded by referee Steve Walsh for the flying hit on Weepu during the Super 15 game at Eden Park on Friday night.

His absence proved costly - the slumping Highlanders conceded two tries in the 10 minutes Nonu was off the field, and lost their ninth consecutive game - but at least his team will suffer no further consequences for his reckless act.

''I think it was a fairly heavy penalty for us in the end,'' Highlanders manager Graham Purvis said yesterday.

''The citing commissioner didn't want to take any further action, as we understand.''

Weepu obviously held no grudges, either. He later tweeted a photo of the pair laughing together: ''Then after the game we brothers again [sic] . . .''

Blues winger George Moala was not so lucky. He has been suspended for one week for a dangerous tackle on Highlanders opposite Buxton Popoali'i.

Moala, who pleaded guilty, had a clean record and also showed ''considerable remorse'', Sanzar judicial officer Nicholas Davidson said.

However, the tackler had a responsibility to tackle cleanly. While Popoali'i had dropped forward, Moala made contact above the shoulders with ''considerable force''.

Purvis said Popoali'i did not train yesterday. He would be assessed for the effects of concussion this week.

''We do baseline testing in the off-season. So that will help us see exactly how he has been affected, if at all. It takes the guesswork out of it.''

The Highlanders had wondered if another Blues player, fullback Charles Piutau, would be cited for a late hit on Highlanders midfielder Jason Emery. No further action was taken.

First five Lima Sopoaga will likely miss the game against the Brumbies in Dunedin on Friday night with an injured ankle.

The Highlanders are rooted to the bottom of the table - a full five points off 14th place - and mired in a losing streak that stretches to nine games across two seasons.

Their chances of making the playoffs are shot and in the coming weeks they face the Brumbies (second), the Crusaders (in Christchurch) and the Sharks (third), before heading to South Africa.

The Brumbies were held to a 28-28 draw by the Kings late on Friday night, while the Sharks rolled the Crusaders 21-17 in Durban.

Bullocking brothers Julian and Ardie Savea starred for the Hurricanes in their 41-29 win over the Waratahs, the Rebels beat the Force 30-23 in the clash of the battling Australian teams, and the Cheetahs won their fifth straight game when they pipped the Stormers 26-24.