In a recent tour match in Durban, Ma’a Nonu, a former All Blacks player, performed a solo haka in front of his Sharks teammates. This event occurred before the match against the All Blacks, which the New Zealand team won 54-0.
Nonu, who played 104 matches for New Zealand between 2003 and 2015, joined the Sharks a week prior to the match. He was initially signed to assist in developing younger players but was later drafted onto the bench due to an expanding injury list within the team.
Nonu’s decision to perform the haka
Nonu expressed initial reluctance to perform the haka, not wanting to overshadow the Sharks’ first encounter with the All Blacks in 30 years. However, he ultimately agreed to participate to help the team. He communicated with New Zealand assistant coaches Tana Umaga and Tamati Ellison about his intention to respond to the All Blacks’ haka.
Nonu stated that performing the haka was a gesture of respect for his team and on behalf of his family, allowing him to respond to the All Blacks. After the anthems and watching the All Blacks’ haka, he stood alone, with the Sharks behind him and the All Blacks on the opposing side of the halfway line. He performed the All Blacks’ own haka, Kapa o Pango, to an initially quiet crowd that grew into cheers.
Following his performance, Nonu exchanged nods with many of the All Blacks players. Of his last squad, only Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett remain with the New Zealand team. Nonu described the experience as a privilege and an honour, allowing him to show respect to the team he holds affection for.
Match details and player updates
Nonu entered the game with a quarter remaining. His first involvement saw him collide with flyhalf Ruben Love. Nonu commented on his playing time, stating he got 20 minutes and tried his best, noting it was good to see the New Zealand players. He observed that the All Blacks opened up in the final 30 minutes, and he found himself chasing.
The All Blacks head coach, Dave Rennie, named his team to play the Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban. The match was the second in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. Luke Jacobson captained the All Blacks for the first time in this match.
Bradley Slater and Semisi Ta’eiloa were set to make their All Blacks debuts from the bench. Slater joined the squad as a replacement for George Bell, who sustained a training-ground injury before the first game of the tour. Billy Proctor also left the tour after suffering a broken shoulder in the win against the Stormers.
There was also a question regarding the health of fullback Damian McKenzie after the Durban win. McKenzie appeared to twist his ankle during a high-ball contest early in the game. Despite this, he continued to play for another 30 minutes, scoring two tries, though one was disallowed, before being substituted seven minutes before halftime. Emoni Narawa, McKenzie’s Chiefs teammate, completed the game at fullback.
Rennie stated that McKenzie’s ankle was “a little bit ginger” and the decision was made to play it safe. He anticipated that McKenzie would be fit for the first Test. The coach also indicated that a decision on Proctor’s replacement would be made after the game, depending on any further injuries. The All Blacks have played six matches against the Sharks’ predecessor, Natal, winning five and drawing one.
Source: theguardian.com