Nonu nails Canterbury
17 Sep 2006
Ma’a Nonu scored three minutes from time and Jimmy Gopperth kicked the conversion as Wellington beat Canterbury 26-24 in the weekend’s premier Air New Zealand Cup match up.
And North Harbour were too strong for Otago.
Nonu, who had been well looked after by the Canterbury defence, beat three tacklers to level the scores at 24-all and leave Gopperth with an easy conversion for the victory. It was Canterbury’s second defeat of the competition after Waikato has also beaten them earlier in the season.
Canterbury led 21-9, but could not shut out the match.
Outside of Nonu, Canterbury scrumhalf Andy Ellis continues to impress and should be selected for the All Blacks end of season tour.
Scorers
Wellington
Tries - Cory Jane and Ma’a Nonu
Convs - Jimmy Gopperth (2)
Pens - Gopperth (4)
Canterbury
Tries - Steven Bruce and Casey Laulala
Conv - Cameron McIntyre
Pens - McIntrye (3)
D/Goal – Andy Ellis
North Harbour, down 13-9 after an hour, hit back to beat Otago 28-18.
Scorers
North Harbour
Tries - James Rodley, Anthony Tuitavake and Nick Williams tries
Convs – Tusi Pisi (2)
Pens - Pisi (3)
Otago
Tries - Neil Brew (2)
Con – Nick Evans
Pens - Evans (2)
18 Comments
17 Sep 2006, 11:26 am
Nonu is a machine
17 Sep 2006, 11:27 am
My superbru is screwed.
17 Sep 2006, 11:46 am
Nonu is the answer to the Midfield for the All Blacks depending on the game but he really needs more games to gain experience and learn from the mistakes….Air NZ Cup is a great concept and it really builds NZ depth…..Go Auckland…
17 Sep 2006, 11:47 am
Nonu and Gopperth would probably fill out the inside backline of the All Black “C” or probably “D” team…
Of course, they would easily walk into the Bok team…
17 Sep 2006, 11:49 am
nonu is like a superior version of dw barry… he cant pass. he lacks the skill for a starting all black team. i would slot him on the wing for the boks only…
17 Sep 2006, 12:03 pm
Nonu is a frikkin masjien ja…with a pea brain…not the sharpest tool on the shed…
17 Sep 2006, 13:49 pm
nonu can cut up a defence and has evasive skills. barry is a crash ball merchant and a good exponent of the rush defence
17 Sep 2006, 15:10 pm
Correct Ziyaad: he’s a great impact player to bring on at centre or wing if the ABs need to close a game out.
He’ll never be the AB centre starter though.
– his option taking is poor, and he often makes a great break only to run away from support or throw a silly pass.
– his defensive positioning is suspect.
– he drops the ball a lot.
17 Sep 2006, 16:22 pm
I’d like to see Nonu vs Tequiri in a wrestling match.
17 Sep 2006, 16:23 pm
Then again, Minki vs Kerry won’t be bad either.
17 Sep 2006, 16:24 pm
Minki will have the weight advantage, if you know what I mean.
Upper body strengh, get it?
17 Sep 2006, 19:28 pm
ziyaad, you nuts bro. Nonu would walk into the bok centre/wing.
His passing has improved alot. Do you watch NPC?
The All blacks have better players in every position compared to the boks except at lock.
Their Props are better,
Loose fowards much better
Rodney at N0.8 is better than Jacque Cronje/AJ
Kelleher better than FDP
Carter better than Pretorius
Mauger better than de villiers
Wings are alot better
Mils or Mcdonald better than JP pietersen
17 Sep 2006, 21:34 pm
Once again Nonu has a blinder now that Umanga is back beside him.
I was at the game and now have no voicebox after yelling so much in the last 5 minutes…it hurts just to type words!
I agree with comments re Nonu, his attacking flair with Conrad Smiths decision making and defense would be the ultimate centre.
17 Sep 2006, 22:58 pm
Yep,Nonu is good but as an impact player only.
I think Conrad should be a starter for the ABs,he dosnt look like much but when he plays he can bust tackle and has brains with good skill,has a good eye for the game.
Personally i would like to see him in the centre for AB’s,and thats starting
17 Sep 2006, 23:14 pm
Whatever, Nonu is powerful, but he’ll never be in the same class as a Brian O’Driscoll, or Tim Horan. Jean de Villiers is way more skillful than Nonu, and i reckon outside a flyhalf of Dan Carters quality he’d outplay Mauger. All Blacks have way more depth than the Springboks, but take the best 22 from SA against the best 22 from NZ on a neutral venue, it’ll be very close
17 Sep 2006, 23:49 pm
Nonu would be the ideal impact player, not a starter, but that depends on the style of play GH wants from his team. If its the tight tidy and conservative style of game, then I would personally would not feature Nonu in such a game, but if its the open and let it flow kind of game then thats where Nonu should be at. Good headache to have if you are one Mr. Henry.
But IMO I still believe that Anthony Tuitavake is a much better and more complete player than Nonu and the likes, Tuitavake is the ideal player for the 13 jersey.
18 Sep 2006, 04:17 am
CSI
Tuitavake certainly has been the star centre of the ANZC (along with Nick Evans at 1st 5 and David Smith on the wing) and it would be interesting to take them on the EOYT and see how they stack up at international level.
Like most of the Lions Conrad and Ma’a have yet to show all they are capable of this season except in glimpses.
18 Sep 2006, 15:31 pm
Damn, the next thing he’ll be is Mr. Consistent!
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