Nonu released by Hurricanes, joins the Blues

First topic message reminder :

Does anyone else find this a bit bizarre? Nonu is one of the world's best inside centres. Him and Smith have an unparalleled partnership at the Hurricanes. Hopefully he'll find a new club. Apparently he's been linked with Munster and Toulon. Good luck to him.

Technically his one weakness seems to be retention of the ball when isolated. He gets himself in entirely the wrong position and it seems like it would be so easy to fix.

grey ghost
Yes you are quite right,even more worrying is when he gets penalised for "not releasing"even on the blindside.
On another note.
A big Wellington prostitutewhose an All Blacks fan got a tatttoo of dan Carter and Sonny Bill on the inside of either thigh...She says to the punter," If you can guess who they are you get a free shag "
he looks to the right and then to the left and says "I dunno whothose ugly bar stewards are,but the one in the middle with the fat lips and long hair is Ma'a Nonu"!!!!

Is Nonu still able to play for Wellington or do the Hurricanes also have a say in that?

Yes, he can still play for wellington...

of course how many ABs are going to get ITM cup time? err woodcock

Apparently he showed up for all blacks camp in crusaders shorts and cheifs top! haha

Haha.
Will it harm his All Black RWC chances though? The ITM cup runs during/after the Super 15 doesn't it, so he'd still be exposed to a decent standard of Rugby. It would be foolish not to include him; but I also expect him to be off to France after the world cup. For the world cup, there's no seperating the Carter/Bill Williams axis as it's probably the best in world rugby right now.

12. SBW, Nonu.
13. Smith, Kahui, Fruean?

The Hurricanes' season is over - so there's no more SXV until next Feb. The Chiefs are chasing his signature for next year, at the moment IF needed he'll be given some Wellington Lions games in NPC. However it's most likely that (barring injury) Nonu will play games in the Tri-nations pre RWC. And Henry will back himself to overcome any discipline issues in the ABs camp with Nonu.

I think the difference is that Nonu is one of the senior 'Canes. At ABs level there's a lot more experienced heads and big names amongst the players so Nonu is less prominent in the group. His on-field discipline (IMO) at international level has been better than at Super level over the years.

So Chiefs are chasing Nonu and SBW... Or is it just the one they're after?

I think they'll take both if they can. Dave Rennie (incoming Chiefs coach) had some involvement in Canes/Wellington in the past, and knows Nonu well.

The Blues will probably also have a look at both - with McAllister off North they're short an IC. And the Highlanders' much improved season this year ultimately floundered due to a combination of injury* and lack of gamebreakers. And Jamie Joseph was Lions coach last year so he may look at Nonu ...

Todd Blackadder and Mark Hammett have worked together a lot, so I suspect the Crusaders won't be looking at Nonu if SBW has gotten fed up with the aftershocks and suitcase-life**. Plus with Adam Whitelock***, Ryan Crotty and Tyler Bleyendaal (player of the 2010 JRWC) on their books they've got options


*Injury rates in this year's SXV have been horrific. The NZ teams are limited to 28-man core squads, and plenty of players have had to be drafted in over the season.

**SBW's apartment is inside the "Red Zone" in Central Chch, and is slated for demolition. Dan Carter and a couple of other Crusaders also lost their houses in Feb.

*** There's 4 Whitelock brothers on Canterbury's books. All have made NZ age-group teams with George and Sam having been capped as All Blacks.

there is a lot of talk in this town that Nonu will announcing this motning that he will be playing for the Blues next year

Seems he has signed for the Blues & NZ for 2 years with a sabbatocal in Japan thrown in. Best of luck to him.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/5216940/Ma-a-Nonu-signs-with-Blues-for-two-seasons

And not the Cardiff chapter either. He's joined the Auckland outfit for two years and will also take up a good little money spinner in Japan at the end of next season. He will still turn out for the Wellington Lions though, when/if he is available.

I guess good news in that he hasn't left NZ, and it will make the Blues a bit stronger in the face of their recent departures. Either Ngatai or Hayward will be looking to step into some big shoes for the Hurricanes next year.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/5216940/Ma-a-Nonu-signs-with-Blues-for-two-seasons

And after the Western Mail nearly convinced us he was coming to Swansea...

Wish he could play tomorrow night in Brizzy...

I for one am rapt.

Canes will be sitting firmly at the bottom next year. Not many dumber things I've seen in rugby than to let him go.

Go the Blues next year...

It was only ever going to be one of two off shore destinations; Japan or France.

I think we in NZ are moving towards a window which will allow players the chance to skip the ITM and play the 12 games in Japan before coming back for the Super 15, provided they have done a service to province/franchise first (say 50 caps)

please join Edinburgh...

It's a similar situation everywhere bar Japan, England and France.

Something we will all have to get used to if there is no wage cap put on the wealthiest clubs.

Must say Im more than happy with the Japan bit, whenever players leave here for the UK/Europe they come back broken and smashed.
Mapusua is apparently getting the same money in japan that he was getting in England......and onlyplays half as many games

Do you know what the salaries are in Japan? Is there a cap? I know nothing about what goes on there, rugby-wise.

Who is going to be able to tell the likes of Toyota, mitsubishi and Kobe steel what they can or cannot spend??and they have a comp sponsored by microsoft.
however i do not believe they pay as much as the French clubs/franchises..

Good point about the company sponsors. But, they have microsoft? Thats a coup for them.

What a way for Cardiff to spend their Dai Young transfer cash. Oh not that Blues.

aucklandlaurie wrote: grey ghost
Yes you are quite right,even more worrying is when he gets penalised for "not releasing"even on the blindside.
On another note.
A big Wellington prostitutewhose an All Blacks fan got a tatttoo of dan Carter and Sonny Bill on the inside of either thigh...She says to the punter," If you can guess who they are you get a free shag "
he looks to the right and then to the left and says "I dunno whothose ugly bar stewards are,but the one in the middle with the fat lips and long hair is Ma'a Nonu"!!!!

That made me laugh out loud!

ScarletSpiderman wrote:What a way for Cardiff to spend their Dai Young transfer cash. Oh not that Blues.

Well, apparently Wasps aren't wiling to pay any compensation at all. (/offtopic)

Heard the auk management say today they have spare money to chase sbw with roks n co going. Well see