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Ageless Ma'a Nonu furthers All Black case with vintage performance

Ma'a Nonu of the Blues. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Blues midfielder Ma’a Nonu has turned back the clock with a vintage performance in a 32-29 win over the Waratahs at Eden Park, further pushing his case forward for an All Black recall.

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Nonu finished with a try and two try assists while in defence finished with eight tackles, missing one. He showed his class early stepping up into first receiver to fire a bullet pass to find Tom Robinson on the edge for the Blues’ first try. He followed it up moments later providing a simple pass out the back for Caleb Clarke who scored under the posts.

Nonu showed he still has the toe in the open field to finish from anywhere when the Blues capitalised on a loose pass from a Waratahs set-piece play. When Ioane delivered the final pass, no one looked like catching Nonu.

https://twitter.com/TNODonoghue/status/1114423222169214978

https://twitter.com/galumay/status/1114438081203957760

https://twitter.com/MRrugbyworldcup/status/1114422972058492929

The impressive performance will do no harm for Nonu’s World Cup push in an already crowded midfield puzzle. There will be no easy decisions for Steve Hansen with Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown already in the mix as well as Blues teammate Sonny Bill Williams.

If Nonu can maintain his level of play, he would bring experience that the others can’t necessarily bring, having been an integral part of two World Cup campaigns and an All Black Centurian.

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One aspect in Nonu’s favour was he generally saved his best for the black jersey and was known for performing better at international level. If that still holds true then he could be a heading to his fourth World Cup.

Israel Dagg hangs up his boots:

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Nickers 30 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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