Ma'a Nonu to move to the Highlanders for 2013

The Highlanders look like being a seriously dangerous team in Super Rugby this season, adding Ma'a Nonu to their list of acquisitions alongside Tony Woodcock and Brad Thorn.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/7822741/Ma-a-Nonu-signs-with-Highlanders

Meanwhile Sir John Kirwan looks like having his work cut out for him, the Blues have lost a lot of talent and experience after last season's disasters.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/7823323/Nonu-went-back-on-agreement-says-Kirwan

Not good for the Blues at all, didn't Nonu leave the hurricanes end of last season?

Three teams in three seasons for Nonu. I always wonder when players have such a nomadic existence and use the failings of the team as a reason to leave, whether it is actually them that is the issue.

From what I remember Nonu and Weepu were seen as disrupting the team ethos at the hurricanes,that's why they left, so in his case one as to wonder.

Is it normal to scoot around the franchises like this? I thought that players were encouraged to stay and become fixtures, especially if chasing an AB/Wallaby shirt. Perhaps Sonny Bill changed all that?

George Carlin wrote:Is it normal to scoot around the franchises like this? I thought that players were encouraged to stay and become fixtures, especially if chasing an AB/Wallaby shirt. Perhaps Sonny Bill changed all that?

It's pretty rare for an established player to move. SBW's move to the Chiefs was a bit different - he'd only been in Christchurch a few weeks before his apartment got trashed in the earthquake, so he never really settled.

It sounds like Nonu didn't enjoy the Blues environment last season, and didn't want to move back to play under Hammett at the 'Canes. Jamie Joseph is another no-nonsense South Island forward, but Nonu will know what he's getting from Joseph's time at Wellington.

Woodcock opting to move surprised me, he's been at the Blues a long time.

So the Highlanders could line up like as follows! Looks like a hell of a team. Brutal second row, class backline (depending on glass jaw). I make that 4/5 starting ABs and 2/3 others in the 30 man squad. All good on paper!

Woodcock - Hore - McIntosh

Thorn - Hoeata

Thomson - Tiejtens - Manu

Smith - Slade

Nonu - Ellison

Gear - Smith - Poki

And pretty much only Jamie McIntosh, Ben Smith and arguably Adam Thomson* & Andrew Hore** are home grown!

John Hardie is also local, and was keeping Haskell on the bench this season before he got injured, so may well force his way into a starting berth.

Woodcock (North Harbour/Blues)
Hore (Otago/Taranaki/Hurricanes)
McIntosh (Southland)
Thorn (Broncos/Canterbury/Crusaders/Leinster)
Hoeata (Taranaki/Chiefs)
Thomson (Otago)
Tiejtens (Perth/Manawatu)
Manu (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Smith (Manawatu)
Slade (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Nonu (Wellington/Hurricanes/Japan/Blues)
Ellison (Wellington/Hurricanes/Japan)
Gear (Poverty Bay/North Harbour/Wellington/Hurricanes)
Poki (Tasman/Crusaders)
Smith (Otago)

But Jamie Joseph is a Marlborough lad turned southern man (like Kade Poki) who cut his coaching teeth in Japan and Wellington, so if anyone knows how to get incomers to buy in ...


*started his provincial rugby with Otago, though technically is a Christchurch born and a Christchurch Boys High alumni
** Otago born before moving to Taranaki

Just out of interest, what do you think of Ben Smith? I really rate him as a full back, clever footballer, runs good lines, but what do you think of him at 12/13 and wing? Is he still set to go on the European Tour?

Ben smith is a solid back three player, but at 13 you have Conrad Smith who is brilliant in organising defence and attacking play with his backs.

Yeah mate, I know that, but They've played Ben Smith at 12 and 13 in Super Rugby and for the ABs, just wanted thoughts on him specifically

Ben Smith is being used as a utility but more of a 15 or 13.
Tamati Ellison is also being used as a utility but more of a 12/13

This moving around Super francises will happen more as they have been delinked from the provinces. So in the past Nonu mostly had to play for the Hurricanes since he is linked to Wellington through his link with his Club Rongatai.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Three teams in three seasons for Nonu. I always wonder when players have such a nomadic existence and use the failings of the team as a reason to leave, whether it is actually them that is the issue.

A bit harsh to accuse Ma'a of being a nomad.
For reasons that are fairly well known Ma'a was in a cabal of senior players who objected to a new coach.
He was shown the door along with his fellow conspiritor Andrew Hore. Piri moved on his own accord. CJ pulled his head in and stayed.
I have no gripe about what Hammett did. His team. His rules!
One would hope that Ma'a has learnt his lesson.
Hore came back home to Dunedin. Rugby on Fri/Sat then back to his Maniototo farm Sunday.
Totally professional. Good team man.
Ma'a probably in hindsight moved to wrong team.
A focussed and fit Ma'a in S15 is a real gamebreaker.
He knows how JJ operates.
He has senior guys such as Hore, Thorn, Woodcock etc around him.
I predict big things for Ma'a in the 2013.
Also you cant question Nonu's loyalty for ABs. Ever!

Thorn confirmed

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10841385