Durban: Ma’a Nonu performs solo haka against All Blacks in tour match
Former All Black performs solo haka
Ma’a Nonu, a former All Blacks player, performed a solo haka against his former team during a tour match in Durban. This marked the first time a South African team has responded to the New Zealand team’s traditional pre-match challenge with another haka. Nonu, playing for the Sharks, stood alone with his teammates 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 a crowd that initially remained silent before erupting in cheers.
Nonu, who played 104 matches for New Zealand between 2003 and 2015, has continued his rugby career globally. He was signed by the Sharks a week prior to the match to assist in developing their younger players. Due to an extended injury list within the Sharks squad, he was drafted onto the bench to face the All Blacks. This was his first encounter playing against the All Blacks.
Initially, Nonu expressed reluctance to participate, not wanting to detract from the Sharks‘ first match against the All Blacks in 30 years. However, he ultimately agreed to help the team. He stated to broadcaster SuperSport, “I thought it would be rude to say no. I thought I would put the boots on and try to help the team really.”
Match details and Nonu’s appearance
The match, held at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Tuesday, 11 August, was the second in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. The All Blacks secured a 54-0 victory over the Sharks in what was described as a soggy Durban. New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie had named his team for the fixture, with Luke Jacobson captaining the All Blacks for the first time.
Nonu discussed his intention to respond to the All Blacks‘ haka with New Zealand assistant coaches Tana Umaga and Tamati Ellison on Monday. He explained his decision, saying, “Out of respect for our team and on behalf of myself and my family, I thought it was the right thing to do, to answer the boys and the All Blacks.” Following his performance, he acknowledged the All Blacks, with many of them returning the gesture. Among the current New Zealand squad, only Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett were part of Nonu’s last team.
Nonu entered the game with approximately a quarter of the match remaining. His first involvement saw him collide with flyhalf Ruben Love, who was two years old when Nonu made his debut for New Zealand. Reflecting on his time on the field, Nonu commented, “I got 20 minutes. I tried my best. It was great to see the [New Zealand] boys. The All Blacks opened up in the last 30 minutes and I was chasing my tail. Credit to them, they’re improving, and all the best to the brothers for the next game.”
All Blacks’ performance and historical context
The All Blacks‘ victory included a strong performance from players such as Jordie Barrett, who scored a try in the second half. Damian McKenzie also scored a try but left the field early due to injury. Fehi Fineanganofo scored two tries, while Caleb Clarke also contributed with a try. Ruben Love was successful with seven of his eight conversion attempts. Sam Darry scored a late try, pushing the All Blacks past the 50-point mark.
Historically, the All Blacks have played six matches against the Sharks‘ predecessor, Natal, winning five and drawing one. These victories occurred in 1928, 1949, 1970, 1976, and 1992, with a 6-6 draw in 1960. The first two games were played at Alexandra Park in Pietermaritzburg and Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban, with subsequent matches at King Park Stadium. In total, the All Blacks have played in Durban on 15 previous occasions, securing 9 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw, scoring 336 points and conceding 233 points.
The All Blacks‘ team for this match saw Bradley Slater and Semisi Ta’eiloa making their debuts from the bench. Luke Jacobson, who captained the team, was praised by coach Dave Rennie for his leadership. The team also featured seven players from the squad that defeated the Stormers 38-21 on Friday, including Asafo Aumua, Sam Darry, Kyle Preston, and Caleb Clarke, who started against the Sharks after coming off the bench against the Stormers. The next game for the All Blacks will be part of the ongoing tour.
Source: theguardian.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
