Judging by his character, Ma’a Nonu isn’t likely to be too perturbed by Dan Carter and Richie McCaw stealing most of the limelight.
They head the list of greats who have played, or in McCaw’s case likely played, their last game for their beloved All Blacks in the World Cup final.
It would be easy to write about any of those great players, an individual collection of astonishing quality and a collective group who have delivered an almost hegemony over world rugby for the best part of their careers.
Bledisloe Cups, Tri Nations, Rugby Championships, World Cups, winning streaks – the list goes on and they have achieved it all.
While Carter and McCaw deserve all the attention and recognition they get, as two of the all time greats of the world game, it is Nonu a man who has been somewhat of an enigma to the public, criticised and loved in equal part.
It is him I am drawn to write about.
There is often too much talk of greatness, of a player being the ‘greatest ever’ player in a position. It is often an argument that favours present players as opinion is naturally skewed to modern time and as memories of past fade. However after watching Nonu again perform to such a world class standard in the world cup final, I wondered to myself – is he now the undisputed greatest All Black midfielder of all time?
This is a man who has taken midfield excellence to another level. This excellence can be summed up in so many ways: consistency, improvement, dominance and success just a few of them.
For eight straight years he has been the go-to man in the All Black midfield, the player charged with getting the team over the gain line.
And dominate the gain line he did. However, to say he was just a crash ball merchant couldn’t be further from the truth. Nonu had it all, combining the brute strength of an elephant with the agility of a ballerina, the vision of those bouncing and flaying dreadlocks something that will live long in the memory.
Time and time again, Nonu played a huge part in helping the All Blacks win big Test matches. I wouldn’t at all be surprised if an analysis was carried out on his 31 Test tries and it was found that the majority were crucial or decisive in deciding a Test match.
Like all legends, he was a true big-game player.
So back to the argument of the All Blacks greatest midfielder, if not Nonu then who? I wasn’t old enough to see the great Bruce Robertson but I have been privileged enough to see some fine players, all with a legitimate claim to being included in the debate. Joe Stanley, Frank Bunce, Tana Umaga and Nonu’s long-time partner in crime Conrad Smith, all could lay claim to such a title.
The ultimate deciding factor? Though these discussions are never final the two world cup winner medals that Nonu played such a big part in securing, not to mention the 103 Tests he played, the countless opponents he battered and bettered and the staggering number of tries he set up, I believe could slam the door shut on the argument once and for all.
He leaves New Zealand rugby as a champion and in my opinion the greatest All Black midfielder of them all.
Lara
Guest
Horan was not as dynamic or as explosive as Nonu at the contact point which sucks in the defence. In all other aspects of the game they would be on par . Nonu would be a 9 , Horan an 8.
Sean
Guest
My memory back to Wawrick Taylor. For me Nonu is clearly the best All Black 12 . Effortless go forward in contact. Great passing option when required. Kicking game astute . Only Horan in contention for best 12 in international game. Both crucial in two WC wins.
DCNZ
Guest
Nonu scored in the RWC 2011 Semi, set the Barrett try up in the RWC 2015 semi, scored in his 100th Test, and scored the try of the RWC Final 2015. What a legend!
IanK
Guest
Bert Cooke was the All Blacks' greatest ever midfielder, the Christian Cullen of the 1920s and 1930s. Cooke played for five provinces I think, including Wellington briefly. Mark Nicolls also played first five-eighth, but was predominantly a second five-eighth for Wellington in the same era. Tana Umaga was voted the greatest player of the past 25 years, 1979-2003, for Wellington. So I'd rank Ma'a Nonu as the fourth best midfielder for Wellington ever. Johnny Smith post-WW2 and Bruce Robertson 1970s also spring to mind nationally, as well as Bunce and Little etc.
mactheblack
Guest
Frank Bunce and Walter Little just as mesmerizing. Loved watching them weave magic. Nonu and Smith just stand out more though in every way.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article. imo Nonu will be the biggest loss to AB. Cruden will be back online next year for ABs to address the outgoing DC Kerevi, if managed well. May be Nonu 2.0 in due course
Brad Moran
Roar Rookie
In my opinion I would now place him above Danie Gerber, Phillipe Sella and Tim Horan as the greatest inside centre of all-time. I'd still have to say that Brian O'Driscoll has the claim to greatest midfielder though.
Rabbits
Guest
Hear, hear. Ma'a Nonu has a very strong claim to being the greatest of centres to have played the game. A player who makes changes to his overall power game and adds nuances such as an under-rated kicking game, great passing, punishing defence and great running lines and vision is in my mind an ALL TIME GREAT. Ma'a Nonu is a LEGEND on par with McCaw and Carter.
Mel R
Roar Rookie
To think a few seasons ago that he was looking for a NZ super rugby club to take him in 2014! What a talent, truly one of the all time greats :)
cuw
Guest
Nonu is a great in the recent past but there were guys like Joe Stanley, Walter Little, Frank Bunce, Alama Iremia, the legend Tana UMaga and AAron mauger who played during 1980s and 1990s. dont forget it was different back then, not the same training, eating, recovering, etc regimes of today. also they did not play as many tests as they do now. not forgetting the way the game has evolved with changes to LAWs and technical analysis and all that.
dsat24
Guest
He is one for mana in the Wellington and AB environments but outside of this what will drive him? I suspect we have seen his best. Just loved seeing his forward play in the tight stuff at the weekend, what a presence.
Mike Julz
Guest
I thought he was a shoe in for World player of the year, but he wasn't even nominated. Not good World Rugby. But yea what a player. He carried those dreadlocks tradition from Tana to Rodney, and we might not see another dreadlocks in the jersey for a while but other than that, what a great centre he is. You know what, who knows, he's still playing at the highest level at his age, if Hansen gets a shortage of good centres, especially come the Lions tour in two years, he might get an SOS from the coach himself. He might be retired then, but we never know.
Playmaker
Guest
Nonu has been around for so long , it is quite unbelievible. He has adapted and has become better every year. However, it is the combo of Nonu/ Conrad Smith that should be remembered as the Kings of Centres , for they complement each other so well, for so long. One can not be talked about , without the other... fabulous mix with a touch of SBW for good measure !!! Cheers , it was wonderful to watch.
CA3ZAR
Roar Pro
In my humble opinion, he's the most destructive midfielder we've had, he had flaws in his game but it's testament to his character the way he worked on his game to be one of the finest all blacks ever. I have been lucky enough to see greats such as Robertson, Umaga play, and they all bought something to the jersey that added to the legacy of he All Blacks, but not enough can be said of how Nonu is
Cam Avery
Roar Guru
Good point about his combination with Carter Riccardo, they play so well together. I agree that he was worthy of a nomination.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
The regard these two fellas have for each other, that easy, friendly smile they share shines like a beacon kingplaymaker. I spotted that right from the jump.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Nah - Horan was quick off the mark and creative, Sella was sooo silky with a beautiful pass, Walter elusive, Mauger effortless, Gerber could bust through, O'Driscoll saw gaps that never existed, whereas Ma'a Nonu ... ummm ... ;) nah, bugger it, they were all good! Especially good. To have seen and marveled at the exceptionalism of each one of 'em is a blessing, a man couldn't script such good fortune if he tried.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Agree, I reckon I've seen the best of them and over time, slowly but surely Nonu has built an arsenal that is second to none. Deserves the apt name of the Predator and will be permanently etched into just about everyones position at 12 on any AB list...finally we have a truly great second five that can sit up there with anyone. SBW plays a largely League based style that works brilliantly in terms of offloading and the physical approach he brings but Nonu's sheer instinct, consistency, work rate, pace and pure impact with ball in hand is ahead of SBW. Cannot believe he wasn't nominated and I think that may be the injuries that kept him out (Sydney etc).
mace 22
Guest
Not only the all blacks finest but the worlds. The only other player who is in his league would be Dannie gerber followed closely by BOD. I've seen some beauties Horan, gibson, sellar, bunce, little both of them, umaga and robertson. But nonu rules over them.
Riccardo
Guest
They are wrong. SBW is a supreme athlete and a talented mid-fielder; his offload is now signature. . He is developing his game but does not have the all-round game that Ma'a has. Nonu can also off-load but has a fabulous passing game off both wings, operates well in limited space, and has enhanced his kicking game. Ma'a's leg drive is probably only matched by Savea. His partnership with Conrad is special but not enough is made of his partnership with Carter, just as crucial to the All Black back-line. Arguably the best inside centre in the game, he will retire from international duty at the peak of his powers. As the writer has indicated he is unlikely to be concerned by accolades. In fact, having watched him in interviews I'm pretty sure he would shun such attention. But I would like to state for the record how farcical a system the World Rugby Awards are if this man can not even garner a nomination in a year where has been quite simply superb. The centre combination looks to be the toughest to fill for the All Blacks and there's a couple of reasons for that. This man is one of them.