- Ma'a Nonu
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Ma'a Nonu 
Full name Ma'a Allan Nonu Date of birth 21 May 1982 Place of birth Wellington, New Zealand Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Weight 106 kg (16 st 10 lb) Nickname Skux School Rongotai College Rugby union career Playing career Position Centre, Wing New Zealand No. 1031 Provincial/State sides Years Club / team Caps (points) 2002– Wellington Super Rugby Years Club / team Caps (points) 2003–2011
2012–Hurricanes
Blues110
0(215)
(0)National team(s) Years Club / team Caps (points) 2003– New Zealand 63 (105) Ma'a Allan Nonu (pronounced /ˈmɑːʔɑː ˈnɒnuː/; born 21 May 1982 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a professional Samoan rugby union player from New Zealand. Nonu plays for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and the New Zealand All Blacks. He plays in the second-five eighth position (called inside centre in Europe), but can also cover (outside) centre and wing.
Contents
Background
Nonu is known for his blonde-streaked dreadlocks and former penchant for wearing eyeliner on the field. [3] He is equally well known for his explosiveness and powerful attacking runs and regularly breaks the defensive line at will. All Blacks coach Graham Henry has described him as "probably the best linebreaker in this game in this country."[4]
Nonu has a similar attacking skillset to former All Black centre Tana Umaga. Like Umaga, he is an exceptional crash ball runner who excels at breaking the line and creating space for outside backs. In 2005, Henry described Nonu as "young Tana,"[1] underlining the impression that he was being groomed as a potential successor to Umaga. This comparison has been confirmed in recent times by Wayne Smith.[2]
Career
Early career
Nonu attended Strathmore Park Primary School in Wellington, then he attended Rongotai College in Wellington. He played for Wellington Secondary Schools in 1999-2000 and Wellington Under 19s in 2001. He also played rugby league as a youngster.
Professional career and the All Blacks
He made his provincial debut for Wellington in the 2002 NPC and debuted for the Hurricanes in the 2003 Super 12. He played for the New Zealand Sevens in 2004. On the back of some outstanding Super 12 form, Nonu made his Test debut for the All Blacks on 14 June 2003, starting at centre in a 15-13 loss to England.
Nonu missed selection for the 2003 Tri Nations, with the selecters preferring Umaga, Aaron Mauger and Daniel Carter in the midfield. He was selected for the All Blacks' 2003 World Cup squad and played in pool matches against Canada, Italy and Tonga. He scored his first Test try against Canada and was generally impressive on attack and easily breaking the line and his big stature was intimidating to the opposition. However, question marks over his defensive game and inexperience meant he was not selected for the knockout stage of the tournament despite an injury to Umaga.
Nonu missed selection for the Tri Nations in 2004 after a form slump in the Super 12. He forced his way back into contention playing for Wellington in the 2004 NPC, and played as a substitute in all four matches on the All Blacks' undefeated end of year tour to Europe.
Nonu played on the wing for much of the 2005 Super 12, with Conrad Smith preferred as Umaga's midfield partner. Standout performances included a hat trick against 2004 Super 12 champions the Brumbies. Nonu played at second five-eighth for the Possibles in the 2005 All Blacks trial, scoring two tries and setting up two more to inspire the Possibles to an upset win over the Probables. He played in the second Test against the 2005 British and Irish Lions as a substitute, replacing Sitiveni Sivivatu on the wing. He again missed selection for the 2005 Tri Nations.
Wellington Lions captain Umaga was rested during the 2005 NPC, and in his absence Nonu was promoted to the captaincy of the team. During the NPC, he established himself as one of New Zealand's most dangerous midfield runners. He was selected for the 2005 All Blacks Grand Slam tour, playing Tests as a substitute against Wales and Scotland, and earning his third Test start against Ireland. He was cited for an alleged spear tackle against Gordon D'Arcy during the Test against Ireland, but was later cleared of the charge.
In 2006 Ma'a Nonu was ruled out of the Tri Nations squad due to injury, Mils Muliaina being chosen to take his place. He damaged the base of his left thumb playing club rugby in Wellington, which required him to have surgery.[3] He was, however, included in the end of year tour with the All Blacks.
Due to his absence from the All Blacks Tri Nations squad Ma'a Nonu was able to play every game with the Wellington Lions in the Air New Zealand Cup, which greatly helped them. Nonu missed out on selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, with the selectors preferring Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister, Conrad Smith and Isaia Toeava in the centres.
Rugby league
In December 2006, Nonu expressed a desire to switch codes to rugby league and play in the National Rugby League (NRL) after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.[4] A move overseas was seen as more likely as he was not named in Graham Henry's 2007 squad but was instead dropped to the Junior All Blacks.[5] As of 2008, Nonu has returned to the All Blacks, starting in the majority of tests throughout the year. He is now regarded as the first choice inside center for the All Blacks.[6] CEO Michael Searle has expressed interest in signing Nonu.[7]
Blues
On 1 July 2011 Nonu announced he had signed a two-year contract with Super 15 franchise Auckland Blues after being sacked by the Hurricanes during the Super 15 rugby season.[8]
Tri-Nations & 2011 Rugby World Cup
Just before the Tri-Nations tournament Nonu played his first international of the year in a friendly against Fiji. He played New Zealand's first Tri-Nations game against South Africa. The All Blacks ended up winning 40-7. He then went on to play New Zealand's next game in the Tri-Nations against Australia where he scored the opening try. He played the final game of the tournament against Australia and scored his 21st international try.
Nonu was selected for the All Blacks 2011 Rugby World Cup squad after missing out in 2007. He played in the opening match scoring the final try of the game. On 23 October 2011, he played on the final game against France, which the All Blacks won by 8-7 becoming 2011 World Champions.
References
- ^ "Great chance for "young Tana"". Television New Zealand. 15 September 2005. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/410965/611426. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ "Rugby Union News, Live Rugby Scores, Results & Fixtures". Planet Rugby. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5399940,00.html. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
- ^ "Worse break for Nonu" Rugbyheaven website, 3 July 2006, retrieved 12 October 2006.
- ^ "Nonu eyes NRL" Sydney Daily Telegraph, 18 December 2006, retrieved 18 December 2006
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Ma'a Nonu enjoying being No 1 at last". Stuff.co.nz. 14 November 2008. http://www.stuff.co.nz/4761600a1823.html. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "Ma'a Nonu joins Auckland Blues" Yahoo website, 1 July 2011, retrieved 1 July 2011.
External links
- Ma'a Nonu at AllBlacks.com
- Ma'a Nonu profile at Hurricanes.co.nz
- Statistics from Fox Sports
New Zealand squad – 2003 Rugby World Cup Third Place Forwards Backs Coach New Zealand squad – 2011 Rugby World Cup Winners (2nd Title) Forwards Backs Coach Hurricanes squad Forwards Backs Coach Categories:- New Zealand rugby union players
- New Zealand international rugby union players
- Rugby union centres
- Rugby union wings
- 1982 births
- Living people
- New Zealand people of Samoan descent
- Former students of Rongotai College
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