Nonu promises Stormers a Hurricanes backlash
10 March 2010, 11:41
By Ashfak Mohamed
Hurricanes powerhouse Ma'a Nonu has warned the Stormers ahead of Saturday's big Super 14 clash at Newlands that he wants to make amends to his team for the yellow card he received at a crucial stage of the 28-12 defeat to the Cheetahs.
Two yellow cards - Nonu for a spear tackle on Juan Smith and Jeremy Thrush for repeated infringements at the breakdown - halted any momentum the Hurricanes may have had, and they could not recover from those periods of playing with 14 men.
Nonu said on Tuesday his yellow card had allowed the Cheetahs to "get a roll-on" and that he wanted to make up for it.
"It was a big blow to the boys and it was pretty much on my head that we went backwards," Nonu said. "We've got to come out and play against the Stormers. Hurricanes teams of the past haven't been that successful in the past against the Cheetahs.
"You can't take anything for granted."
Nonu said that the new stricter rulings around tackles were making rugby "boring", which had resulted in faltering interest in New Zealand.
"Rugby isn't as popular as it used to be in New Zealand because of the new rules, which are a bit harsh on teams," he said.
"Just at the weekend, my yellow card, some say I deserved it and others not, but rugby is a contact sport and these rules are taking out the big hits that South Africans and New Zealanders love to do on each other.
"You do a high shoulder and you get penalised. It's getting a bit boring."
The Hurricanes squad were welcomed in the Cape by around 300 people and team manager Tony Ward said that the entire grandstand at the Charles Morkel Stadium in the Strand was packed for Monday afternoon's practice.
Nonu said that the Hurricanes enjoyed the support they receive in the Western Cape.
"Maybe in the past, a lot of African and coloured people love the style of the Kiwis, and for us Polynesians and Kiwis, we like to mix with the people," he said.
"At the end of the day, we are the same as the people over here. We aren't anyone special or come from wealthy backgrounds. There are a lot of kids who love the sport and, if you make it to the top or this level, you've got to give back to the community."
Even though they are loaded with internationals, and Nonu will be re-united with All Black midfield partner Conrad Smith on Saturday, the Hurricanes will face another difficult test against a Stormers team that have conceded only two tries in four matches, with one of them an intercept.
"Conrad and I have played together for a while and it is always hard with this team. You talk about combinations but you have to play your best week in and week out," said Nonu.
"There are a lot of teams sharpening up their defence and there aren't as many holes as before. I have found it harder to play footy in the last four weeks.
"The Stormers have a very good defence. On first and second phase, they don't really put anyone into the rucks. And the ball stealers are hard to remove so we will have to find some way to score tries."
Although the Hurricanes are well aware of the threat that seasoned Springboks Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie will pose on attack, Nonu said that he would also keep an eye on rookie centre Juan de Jongh.
"Juan is pretty good. I saw him play a bit in 2009 but then he got, with a hip injury. But he is a talented young man and at the moment, he is playing well," Nonu said.
"It is actually quite satisfying if you play in a good side when you are young, because you learn off other players.
"He is coming into his own and I'm sure he'll be vying for a spot in the Springbok team pretty soon," said Nonu.
Hurricanes powerhouse Ma'a Nonu has warned the Stormers ahead of Saturday's big Super 14 clash at Newlands that he wants to make amends to his team for the yellow card he received at a crucial stage of the 28-12 defeat to the Cheetahs.
Two yellow cards - Nonu for a spear tackle on Juan Smith and Jeremy Thrush for repeated infringements at the breakdown - halted any momentum the Hurricanes may have had, and they could not recover from those periods of playing with 14 men.
Nonu said on Tuesday his yellow card had allowed the Cheetahs to "get a roll-on" and that he wanted to make up for it.
"It was a big blow to the boys and it was pretty much on my head that we went backwards," Nonu said. "We've got to come out and play against the Stormers. Hurricanes teams of the past haven't been that successful in the past against the Cheetahs.
"You can't take anything for granted."
Nonu said that the new stricter rulings around tackles were making rugby "boring", which had resulted in faltering interest in New Zealand.
"Rugby isn't as popular as it used to be in New Zealand because of the new rules, which are a bit harsh on teams," he said.
"Just at the weekend, my yellow card, some say I deserved it and others not, but rugby is a contact sport and these rules are taking out the big hits that South Africans and New Zealanders love to do on each other.
"You do a high shoulder and you get penalised. It's getting a bit boring."
The Hurricanes squad were welcomed in the Cape by around 300 people and team manager Tony Ward said that the entire grandstand at the Charles Morkel Stadium in the Strand was packed for Monday afternoon's practice.
Nonu said that the Hurricanes enjoyed the support they receive in the Western Cape.
"Maybe in the past, a lot of African and coloured people love the style of the Kiwis, and for us Polynesians and Kiwis, we like to mix with the people," he said.
"At the end of the day, we are the same as the people over here. We aren't anyone special or come from wealthy backgrounds. There are a lot of kids who love the sport and, if you make it to the top or this level, you've got to give back to the community."
Even though they are loaded with internationals, and Nonu will be re-united with All Black midfield partner Conrad Smith on Saturday, the Hurricanes will face another difficult test against a Stormers team that have conceded only two tries in four matches, with one of them an intercept.
"Conrad and I have played together for a while and it is always hard with this team. You talk about combinations but you have to play your best week in and week out," said Nonu.
"There are a lot of teams sharpening up their defence and there aren't as many holes as before. I have found it harder to play footy in the last four weeks.
"The Stormers have a very good defence. On first and second phase, they don't really put anyone into the rucks. And the ball stealers are hard to remove so we will have to find some way to score tries."
Although the Hurricanes are well aware of the threat that seasoned Springboks Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie will pose on attack, Nonu said that he would also keep an eye on rookie centre Juan de Jongh.
"Juan is pretty good. I saw him play a bit in 2009 but then he got, with a hip injury. But he is a talented young man and at the moment, he is playing well," Nonu said.
"It is actually quite satisfying if you play in a good side when you are young, because you learn off other players.
"He is coming into his own and I'm sure he'll be vying for a spot in the Springbok team pretty soon," said Nonu.
- This article was originally published on page 10 of The Pretoria News on March 10, 2010
Johannesburg
