Nonu has his eyes firmly on the big prize
MA’A NONU is an All Blacks legend, no doubt about that. But he knows all too well he’ll have to produce a top Super Rugby season with the Auckland Blues if he wants to book a World Cup spot.
As with all New Zealand’s other rugby blessings, midfield is no different. There’s the ever-reliable Ryan Crotty and Anton LienertBrown. There’s Jack Goodhue, who seems destined for greatness. Then there’s the bruising Ngani Laumape.
However, before Nonu can book his plane ticket to Japan for the World Cup in September he will have to deliver for the Blues first.
The 36-year-old has been named at No 13 and will partner TJ Faiane in midfield in Leon MacDonald’s side that’ll take on the Crusaders at Eden Park tomorrow (8.35am SA time).
It will be his first Super Rugby appearance since the 2015 final, where the Highlanders upset his Hurricanes before he went to France.
Now, after making no secret of his World Cup ambitions, he will have all eyes on him as he aims to produce a Super Rugby season so irresistible that his selection for the World Cup is a mere formality.
“Hopefully I’ve still got the wisdom upstairs and the physicality as well to play Super Rugby because it’s really intense.
“The Top 14 and Champions Cup is a brutal, brutal competition in Europe, so I’ve learned a few things about playing week-in, week-out,” Nonu told stuff.co.za.
“There are a lot of young players playing, and a lot of great players playing, and I’m stoked to be running around.
“I haven’t thought about stopping.
“Hopefully I can still play at this level and that’s the challenge I’m looking forward to.”
Over the years, Nonu has proven a nightmare to attackers and defenders alike.
He can break the line just as easily as he can stop a carrier in his tracks.
He can score superb tries just as easily as he can set them up.
His explosiveness and powerful running can be just as potent as his offloads and his handy ability to get his team over the advantage line, extremely committed and wellorganised rush defence or not.
His feet won’t allow you to drift him off in defence.
The convenience of his long passes are self-explanatory and he knows how to take pressure off his No 10.
Those are traits the two-time World Cup winner has shown in the black jersey in the past. But does he still have it?
If you look at news coming out of the Blues camp, it seems being on the brink of 37 hasn’t been too much of a biggie for Nonu in terms of his physical conditioning.
In fact, it sounds like he’s looking pretty good.
The big question is: What will Nonu’s impact on the tournament be?
And of course, South African teams will also have to find new ways of coping with him.
Many descriptions fit the rugby legend that is Nonu. And one that is especially relevant now is determined.
We’ve seen what he can do, we’ve seen it over many years. So just imagine that balling ability mixed with that resolve to wear the black jersey later this year. Just imagine what kind of a season that can give him with the Blues.