Nonu
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<p>Yeah Nonu is one of a kind - who quite easily can get overlooked with the focus on Carter and McCaw. Nonu is right up there as the best All Black number 12 of all time.</p>
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<p>The transformation and growth from 2007 missing the RWC squad to the player he is today is quite something - I'm not sure I can pinpoint another player who has developed their skills during their career and grown as a player as much as Nonu has. It is almost hard to believe it is the same player. </p> -
<p>one thing about him this year is he's certainly looking in good nick body wise - looks trim as fark. got a little more edge around him.</p>
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<p>Certainly not on the decline like you'd say Conrad is</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WillieTheWaiter" data-cid="534975" data-time="1445899783"><p>one thing about him this year is he's certainly looking in good nick body wise - looks trim as fark. got a little more edge around him.<br><br>
Certainly not on the decline like you'd say Conrad is</p></blockquote>
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Yeah agree. I think it was the year he played for the Blues or Landers he looked a little chunky and his quick acceleration that he has always relied on was down. <br><br>
He's in great nick now. <br><br>
In the lead up to the France game, I said him and Dan were the keys. If they play well we win big. Both had stand out games. <br><br>
I think it will be the same against OZ. <br><br>
On him being subbed, I just thought it was about providing something different. Against France Snakey went off and against Boks it was Rock. There definitely was no "saving him" thoughts I'd suggest. The game was in the balance. -
Saw Nonu play live for first time this year. I was blown away. The guy is a BEAST. He's a ridiculous combination of size, strength, agility and skill. His passing is arguably the best in the game.<br><br>
The best 12 I've ever seen. -
<p>Tana was a wing/13...</p>
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<p>Nonu, Nonu, Nonu, BOOM!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Says it all really! Legend!</p> -
<p>Agree with all the above comments. I remember when he first came onto the scene, complete with eyeliner and everything.</p>
<p>He was quite one dimenstional back then, crash and bash and not much else from recollection.</p>
<p>I remember when he started kicking the ball and we were all like "hey what gives? Nonu can kick?". It wasnt all good to begin with, but it got better and better. </p>
<p>And then he honed his ability to straighten, draw players and create space for those outside him.</p>
<p>I never would have thought he would become the player he is today, so dramatic has his transformation been.</p>
<p>Big boots to fill.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="535014" data-time="1445904509"><p>Serious question: Will he go down in AB folklore as a better player than his hero Tana Umaga? <br>
Tana obviously had the captaincy in his favour but as a player the argument can be made than Ma'a edges him.</p></blockquote>In my book yes. <br>
Captaincy aside, onfield influence is a push. Nonu edges him in terms of wider skill set, one (hopefully soon to be two) RWC winners medals and his durability. Tana dropped off badly and would have been dropped if he didn't quit imho. You could argue Nonu has never played better than right now -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="535019" data-time="1445904682"><p>Tana was a wing/13...<br>
<br>
Nonu, Nonu, Nonu, BOOM!<br>
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Says it all really! Legend!</p></blockquote>
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You'll go a long way to find analysis that's more insightful and erudite than that..... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="535014" data-time="1445904509">
<div>
<p>Serious question: Will he go down in AB folklore as a better player than his hero Tana Umaga?<br><br>
Tana obviously had the captaincy in his favour but as a player the argument can be made than Ma'a edges him.</p>
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<p>I think Tana retired about two years too early which may have hindered his greatness credentials (I didn't notice a marked drop off in form from Tana, not at test level at least). It is worth noting though that they did a book of 100 greatest ABs when Tana was still playing and I think he made the top 25.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ma'a has definitely secured his place in history though. Although, after watching some 2003 RWC highlights I do wonder if his late development as a 'rounded' player was due to coaching styles etc than Nonu himself. On a number of occasions in the highlights of his few minutes on the field he'd make a break and then throw a good pass. Maybe it was always there but he spent too much time as a battering ram wing and centre which didn't allow full use of his skills.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ma'a and SBW are funny together at the end of that AB/Adidas doco.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="535025" data-time="1445904987">
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<p>You'll go a long way to find analysis that's more insightful and erudite than that.....</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>here, check these out and let the big kids talk</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCMPkso6x4cgCFYjapgodT3QB1A&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseannal.com%2Farticles%2Ftraining%2Fbuild-bigger-bicep-peaks.php&psig=AFQjCNHC6uxRVxrs9K4MEMF7ykoN2CkzKA&ust=1445991728087611'><img height="208" src="http://seannal.com/images/huge-biceps.jpg" width="244" alt="huge-biceps.jpg"></a></p> -
<p>If you had have told me when Mauger and McAlister announced they were leaving during the RWC that their replacement was already a fixture in NZ rugby, would play 100 tests and would be better than both of them combined I would have had no idea who it was. Certainly wouldn't have guessed Nonu.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="535030" data-time="1445905385"><p>
here, check these out and let the big kids talk<br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCMPkso6x4cgCFYjapgodT3QB1A&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseannal.com%2Farticles%2Ftraining%2Fbuild-bigger-bicep-peaks.php&psig=AFQjCNHC6uxRVxrs9K4MEMF7ykoN2CkzKA&ust=1445991728087611"><img src="http://seannal.com/images/huge-biceps.jpg" alt="huge-biceps.jpg"></a></p></blockquote>
How many ABs you seen running round Whangarei lately ?<br><br>
Those chin ups have really paid off though bro -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="535014" data-time="1445904509">
<div>
<p>Serious question: Will he go down in AB folklore as a better player than his hero Tana Umaga?<br><br>
Tana obviously had the captaincy in his favour but as a player the argument can be made than Ma'a edges him.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>In folklore Tana probably goes down as the greater character due to the captaincy, the O'Driscoll incident and aftermath, Grand Slam and the cheerleader effect with Cullen and Lomu.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tana has always been the toughest All Black to evaluate for me. It's always tough to find players historically or currently with a similar resume.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I don't ever think Tana was the best outside back in the team, nor was he the conclusively the best player in the world in his position. Nonu was both at times. For me Nonu was the better player by a decent margin. The fact he not only kept SBW out of the team, but he was never genuinely threatened for the position speaks volumes to his ability.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="535067" data-time="1445907959"><p>Tana did genuinely excel in two positions which is a string to the bow.....</p></blockquote>
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Did he? I thought he was an okay centre/2nd 5, but nothing like what he showed as a winger. Despite being in there with Lomu and Cullen, he was IMO in his own right a world class winger.
