No place like home for prodigal son Nonu
No longer flaky, the Canes continue to impress in 2015, writes
MA’A NONU has his game face on. And that’s a good thing for the Hurricanes.
In many ways Nonu epitomises the transformation of the Hurricanes in 2015.
Once flaky at Super Rugby time, the power-packed, dreadlocked midfielder has been a picture of consistency for his home-town team this season as they charge relentlessly towards the minor premiership.
That continued on Saturday night at the Cake Tin as he stayed the course brilliantly for two tries – to bring up his 50th in this competition – as the Canes all but clinched the New Zealand conference title with a quality 22-18 victory over the Chiefs.
They now lead their staunch rivals by 13 points and, with both teams having just four matches to go, it will take something pretty dramatic to change that order.
There was a time when you could pretty much rely on the Canes to deliver the best of times and the worst of times in one 80-minute performance, let alone throughout a campaign.
Sometimes they would string a few games together, and occasionally threaten to deliver a championship, like in 2006 when they made it to the final, only to be subsumed by the Christchurch fog. But more often than not they would flatter only to deceive.
But this year there’s a different feel in the capital and Nonu is a big part of that. The prodigal son went wandering for a few seasons, but is back. And setting a mighty tone with his application to the cause, his steadiness of performance and his leadership qualities among a group who have stuck splendidly to their task.
Nonu was all purpose and power, as expected, on Saturday night. He scored a trademark firsthalf try when he powered over from close; and clinched victory late in the piece when he skilfully snaffled an intercept to give his team a nine-point advantage they would need.
And if you were in any doubt about his focus and determination, his curt dismissal of a rather loaded halftime question from a television interviewer confirmed the game face is still very much affixed.
This was a quality victory for the Canes who needed a bit of luck to hold off a splendid finish from the Chiefs who showed that they’re still very much in this race.
In a match brimming with intensity, pace and impressive precision, the Hurricanes dictated most of the way with a display that suggests they’re going to take some stopping.
It was their 11th victory, from 12, and with the Savea brothers, James Broadhurst and TJ Perenara, among others, playing so well, and Dane Coles showing he’s not far off a return to full gallop, they have a royal chance to snare the elusive title.
But the Chiefs should not be discounted. In many ways they were the more impressive team in this surging contest, overcoming the pre-game loss of talisman Sonny Bill Williams and the defection to injury of both secondrowers during the game very, very well.
They very nearly stole it at the end too, when Augustine Pulu looked to have snatched the winner. But a marginal call went against them.
They are probably going to have to do it the hard way, but these Chiefs will take some toppling if they sneak into the playoffs, as they still should from here.
Who knows? These great foes may well meet again when it really matters. No doubt Nonu would relish it.
This year there’s a different feel in the capital.