Centre of NZ attention

Toulon coach tips fine combination as ex-All Blacks reunite for Toulon

TOULON head coach Patrice Collazo said former New Zealand centres Ma’a Nonu and Isaia Toeava were “at ease” with each other ahead of hosting Clermont in the French Top 14 this Sunday.

Nonu returned to the club on a short-term deal in November after Toeava, who can play across the backline, had joined the three-time European champions for the new campaign. The pair featured 20 times together at Test level and spent a season with the Blues in Super Rugby before Toeava’s departure for the Canon Eagles in Japan’s Top League in 2012.

“They already had a connection because they knew each other, which put them at ease on the field,” Collazo said before this weekend’s Christmas fixture.

“The two together, whatever position they play, they manage to pass on messages around them, most notably among the backs,” he added.

Toeava arrived on the Mediterranean coast after four campaigns at Stade MarcelMichelin where he won a league and European Challenge Cup title.

“Like any player who plays against his former club it remains a unique moment,” former France prop Collazo said.

“He did a good job at Clermont, his reunion will be healthy. He’s a great player,” he added.

Collazo’s men withdrew from last week’s European Champions Cup trip to the Scarlets less than two hours before kick-off due to coronavirus concerns.

After saying they were considering appealing the tournament organisers’ decision to hand the Welsh region a 28-0 walkover win, Collazo said a line had been written under the incident.

“The objective is simple, which is to move on to the coming weekend and Clermont coming to us,” Collazo said. “We haven’t had time to mull over things and ask 10,000 questions because of what’s ahead of us. It’s easy to move on.”

Elsewhere, on a day with all seven games from the Top 14’s matchday, Nonu and Toeava’s former international teammate Jerome Kaino will be absent as Toulouse host Bordeaux-Begles. The double Rugby World Cup winner is expected to join the club’s coaching staff after he announced this week he would hang up his boots at the end of the season.

Additionally, back-rower Pablo Matera is set for his first Stade Francais appearance since the Argentina captaincy was taken away from him then reinstated after the discovery of racist comments made on social media.