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Watch: Old dogs don't need new tricks as Ma'a Nonu bunts Anton Lienert-Brown with pure power

Blues Ma’a Nonu runs in a try against the Chiefs. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)

The Blues fell short of breaking an 8-year dry spell against the Chiefs in Hamilton but Ma’a Nonu showed that old dogs don’t need new tricks, pulling out a special bulldozing run to score.

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The Blues midfielder took a short ball at top speed and clattered into Chiefs opposite Anton Lienert-Brown, bunting him onto his backside before fighting through traffic to score a try down High street.

After scoring one and setting up two last week against the Waratahs, Nonu scored a double last night to further push his case forward after being omitted from the All Blacks foundation day squad. Despite making just 9-run metres, Nonu beat 10 defenders with bruising carries offering a handful for the Chiefs defence.

https://twitter.com/humblekiwi/status/1117220736215568384

https://twitter.com/cookiemanstah22/status/1117070538784948224

Blues head coach Leon Macdonald has praised Nonu’s efforts this season claiming he wouldn’t rule him out wearing the black jersey again. He was again impressed with his performance against the Chiefs.

“I’m glad I wasn’t in that channel when he carried over the line there, he was like a steam train wasn’t he. He was good again tonight, and he’s going right through to the end, 80 minutes of solid rugby,” he told the media post-match.

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With news last Thursday that Blues teammate Sonny Bill Williams will require knee surgery, Nonu is placed to recieve significantly more game time in the 12 jersey after being used at 13 earlier this season.

Williams will return for the final stages of Super Rugby after six weeks recovery and look to make a late push for the Rugby World Cup squad, but it might be Nonu who has form and match fitness. The Crusaders pair of Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue are obvious frontrunners, so Nonu will have to oust Ngani Laumape or Anton Lienert-Brown to be one of the four midfielders to make the squad.

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Nickers 19 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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