Former All Blacks player Ma’a Nonu performed a solo haka against his former team during a tour match in Durban, South Africa. Nonu, now playing for the Sharks, delivered the traditional challenge before the match, which the New Zealanders won 54-0.
The event marked a unique moment as South African teams have historically faced the haka but not replied with one until this occasion. Nonu, who represented New Zealand in 104 matches between 2003 and 2015, joined the Sharks a week prior to the match to assist with player development. Due to an extended injury list within the Sharks squad, he was subsequently drafted onto the bench to play against the All Blacks.
Nonu’s return and pre-match challenge
Initially, Nonu expressed reluctance to participate, concerned about overshadowing the Sharks‘ first encounter with the All Blacks in 30 years. However, he ultimately agreed to play to help the team, stating to broadcaster SuperSport that he felt it would be “rude to say no” and that he wanted to “put the boots on and try to help the team really.”
Before the match, Nonu consulted with New Zealand assistant coaches Tana Umaga and Tamati Ellison regarding his intention to respond to the All Blacks‘ haka. He explained that performing the haka was a gesture of respect from himself and his family to the team he holds in high regard. After the anthems and the All Blacks‘ haka, Nonu stood alone, with his Sharks teammates behind him and the All Blacks opposite him, and performed the Kapa o Pango haka.
The crowd initially reacted with silence before growing cheers. Following his performance, Nonu nodded to the All Blacks, with many players returning the gesture. Of Nonu’s last squad, only Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett remain active players for New Zealand. Nonu described the experience as a “privilege and an honor” to show his respect to the team he loves.
Match details and player debuts
Nonu entered the game with approximately 15 minutes remaining. His first involvement saw him collide with All Blacks flyhalf Ruben Love, who was two years old when Nonu made his debut for New Zealand. Nonu commented on his performance, saying he “tried my best” during his 20 minutes on the field and noted that the All Blacks “opened up in the last 30 minutes.”
The All Blacks‘ head coach, Dave Rennie, had previously named the team to face the Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban. The match was the second in a series of games. Luke Jacobson captained the All Blacks for the first time in this fixture. Rennie highlighted Jacobson’s leadership qualities, stating he is “highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions.”
Two players, Bradley Slater and Semisi Ta’eiloa, made their All Blacks debuts from the bench during the match. Slater, a hooker, joined the squad five days prior as a replacement for an injured player. Seven players from the All Blacks team that defeated the Stormers 38-21 in a previous match were also named in the 23-man squad for the Sharks game. These included Asafo Aumua, Sam Darry, Kyle Preston, and Caleb Clarke, who started against the Sharks after coming off the bench against the Stormers.
The All Blacks have a history of playing in Durban, with 15 previous appearances resulting in 9 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw. They have scored 336 points and conceded 233 points in these matches. Historically, the All Blacks have played six matches against the Sharks‘ predecessor, Natal, securing five wins and one draw, with the draw being 6-6 in 1960. The most recent match against the Sharks took place on Tuesday, 11 August.
Source: theguardian.com
