BABY KEEPS NONU OUT OF SUPER RUGBY OPENER
MA’A NONU will skip the Hurricanes’ season-opener against the Lions as he stays home in Wellington to await the birth of his third child.
The All Blacks midfielder will join the Hurricanes in South Africa ahead of their second match of the Super Rugby season against the Bulls in Pretoria.
Nonu, 32, and wife Andrea already have two sons, Mercury and Michael, and he will put family ahead of rugby before beginning his playing duties in World Cup year.
Nonu has been heavily involved with the Hurricanes preseason even as he recovered from the broken arm he suffered playing for the All Blacks last year, but has kept a low media profile since rejoining the Hurricanes.
He plans to stay in the background until after he’s played his first match, hoping his homecoming will not overshadow the start to the new season. His family commitments also mean he won’t travel with the squad to Auckland for their preseason match against the Blues tomorrow.
The Hurricanes’ other eight All Blacks will be in Albany with lock Jeremy Thrush, halfback TJ Perenara, and wing Cory Jane named to start. Jane will play for the first time since a hamstring injury forced him off the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour after the match against the USA in Chicago.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has been planning for Nonu’s absence and will again pair Rey LeeLo and Matt Proctor in the midfield in a likely pointer to his favoured combination for the seasonopener. Likewise, the loose trio of Ardie Savea, Brad Shields and Blade Thomson get another crack after their impressive performance in Saturday’s 41-31 win over the Crusaders in Eketahuna.
James Marshall continues to warm the No 10 jersey for Beauden Barrett, while Jane, Jason Woodward and fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder are the back three. Thrush is paired with James Broadhurst, who didn’t play last week, while Reggie Goodes comes in at loose-head prop and Jeff Toomaga-Allen continues his comeback from knee surgery at tight-head.
Interestingly, interim training contract call-up Brayden Mitchell of Waikato continues at hooker with Leni Apisai again on the bench. Motu Matu’u and Dane Coles are not taking part.
Manawatu openside Callum Gibbins will make his return from minor knee surgery via the reserves, which also feature Ben May, who has re-signed with the franchise after two years in Japan.
Boyd will name 27 players after the match to go to South Africa on Saturday for matches against the Lions, Bulls and then on to Australia for a match against the Western Force in Perth.