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Blues name key signing for Hurricanes clash
By Online Editors
Ma'a Nonu will make highly-anticipated return to the Blues against the team of which he spent most of his Super Rugby career with.
The 36-year-old midfielder has been named to start at centre against the Hurricanes in the two side's final pre-season hit out at Mangatainoka on Saturday.
Nonu, who is entering his third stint with the Blues after playing for the franchise in 2012 and 2014, played 126 times for the Hurricanes after making his Super 12 debut for them in 2003.
After 10 seasons spread across two stints in Wellington, Nonu spent time at the Blues, Highlanders, Ricoh Black Rams and Toulon before returning to the Auckland-based Blues with an eye on the World Cup later this year.
Nonu played the last of his 103 tests for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup final against Australia, and is hopeful of attending a third World Cup after a four-year hiatus in France.
He is by far the most experienced player in the Blues' line-up for their match this weekend, with two-test All Blacks halfback Augustine Pulu the only other player in the starting side with international experience.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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