Nonu
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="537738" data-time="1446341232">
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<p>Always had a lot of respect for Ma'a after what he said back in 08. <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With interest overseas and from the NRL, and him seeming to be on the outer with the ABs in 07, he was asked why he didn't leave NZ, he said he didn't want to be remembered as an average All Black, he wanted to be remembered as a great one.</span></p>
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<p>Mission accomplished, Ma'a.</p>
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<p>Probably AB of the year for 2015.</p> -
<p>I haven't read the whole thread but do people think we will see another second five like Mauger? He was a very good player, to be sure but I think Nonu has shown time and time again how important it is to have a 12 who can provide that punch. If we pick Moala at 12 next season then that indicates that we want to replicate what Nonu could do. If we pick Ngatai then that shows we are looking for something a little different.</p>
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<p>As for Nonu, he sort of came from nowhere didn't he? He wasn't a star at the lower levels but just seemed to get better every year. In 2011 he was one of the players I had the least confidence in him being there in 2015. He just continued evolving his game and somehow managed to keep his pace.</p> -
Everyone seems to be forgetting crotty! I think he has played well at international level and like Conrad smith, he reads the game well<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="537778" data-time="1446345410"><p>Everyone seems to be forgetting crotty!</p></blockquote>Don't worry! Canerbry hasn't! He'll be dropping Crotty's name more often than he drops his Andy Ellis "slow delivery" underwear when the Crusaders are playing.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="537759" data-time="1446343029">
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<p>I haven't read the whole thread but do people think we will see another second five like Mauger? He was a very good player, to be sure but I think Nonu has shown time and time again how important it is to have a 12 who can provide that punch. If we pick Moala at 12 next season then that indicates that we want to replicate what Nonu could do. If we pick Ngatai then that shows we are looking for something a little different.</p>
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<p>I think you can have a smaller ball-playing 12 if your 13 is a blockbuster, but agree that at least one of them needs to provide some punch.</p> -
Fekitoa has been on fire this year. Only some sublime form from SBW kept him out of the 23.<br><br>
I'd like to see Fekitoa and Crotty develop a combination, with Moala off the bench.<br><br>
We still have a lot of quality to work with despite losing one of our best ever pairings in Ma'a/Conrad. -
I think ngatai looks a better prospect than buckman also as others have said ranger and taminevalu aswell<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="voodoo" data-cid="537724" data-time="1446339405">
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<p>Damn you buggers with older kids. I've been up with the oldest one since 2am watching the game, made all 3 of the fckers pancakes at 6.00am, was at the outdoor basketball courts by 8.30am with scooters, basketball and footy ball, back home now via Woolworths to feed them lunch and hopefully get the youngest down for a couple of hours so I can go back to bed. I suspect I won't get to the replay until 8pm tonight.</p>
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<p>And I'm still fcking excited about it.</p>
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<p>Mine are 24 & 21. One called up asking for a lift 10 mins before kick-off. Hasn't spoken to me since for some reason. Probably something I said.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="538201" data-time="1446420550"><p>World Rugby have named Giteau at 12 in their team of the year ahead of Nonu, what a fucking joke.</p></blockquote>
I saw a clip from a paper yesterday with quite a few northern scribes talking him up. I suspect his NH club play would bias their decision a bit. Hard to see a 12 above Nonu this year. -
Maybe we are biased because of his past history against the All Blacks and because of the final but I'd have Nonu higher too, Nonu had a great RWC.
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<p>Nonu has had a fantastic year, played like someone in the prime of his career, not someone supposed to be on the downward slope!</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cyclopath" data-cid="538206" data-time="1446420734">
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<p>I saw a clip from a paper yesterday with quite a few northern scribes talking him up. I suspect his NH club play would bias their decision a bit. Hard to see a 12 above Nonu this year.</p>
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<p>Giteau has had a great tournament , I may be a bit biased , but I think Nonu is more of a crunch player , </p>
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<p>The bigger the game , the better he plays . </p>
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<p>If I had both in my squad , Nonu starts at the pointy end of the tournament . </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="538201" data-time="1446420550"><p>World Rugby have named Giteau at 12 in their team of the year ahead of Nonu, what a fucking joke.</p></blockquote>
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I thought Giteau was the one knocked senseless, not the selectors.... -
<p>Been a fan of Nonu for years and have to admit a great sense of satisfaction at Nonu's performance this RWC and his try in the Final was just the icing on the cake for me</p>
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<p>There was a time when you cringed when he came on but sometime in '08/09 you started to feel relieved when he came on and by 2010/11 he had matured into one of the few players like Carter & McCaw you thought "Oh Shit" when he wasn't available - not that it happened often, for a big bloke in a tough contact area who was as physical as hell, he was rarely injured</p>
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<p>Seemed like a complex character at times and he had a bit of rough time in S15 but worked thru that and it was always a case of all hell breaking loose when he pulled on the Black jersey. Who can forget this:</p>
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<p>If you measure a player's worth by what he puts back into the jersey, Ma'a would near the top of any list. Not just for his play but for the way he handles himself - making sure that on his 100th Test, JdV got his 12 shirt after breaking his arm being an example of his class.</p>
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<p>His replacement has big shoes to fill</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dejo" data-cid="538312" data-time="1446427892"><p>Nonu probably should be player of the year</p></blockquote>12s don't usually get the glory do they?!
