Ma’a Nonu explains why he responded to the All Blacks Haka
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Respect.
Ma’a Nonu has explained the thinking behind his powerful haka response to the All Blacks before facing his former side in Durban.
The 44-year-old produced one of the moments of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour when he stepped forward to perform a haka of his own before the Sharks took on New Zealand at Kings Park.
Nonu revealed afterwards that it was not something he had originally planned, with the idea only coming together after discussions the night before the game.
“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” Nonu said.
“They asked me… I just had questions about it the night before, and I kind of said no because obviously this week I didn’t want it to be about myself, being on the bench and the All Blacks and my history with the team.
“I wanted it to be about the All Blacks and the Sharks and the great rivalry.”
Nonu ultimately decided to go ahead with the gesture after speaking with former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and Tamati Ellison, revealing he sought permission before performing it.
“I spoke to Tana [Umaga] and Tamati [Ellison] as well. I asked Tamati for permission in terms of doing it out of respect, on behalf of our team, on behalf of myself and my family, and I thought it was the right thing to do to honour the boys and the All Blacks.”
The 103-cap All Black also spoke about what it meant to face New Zealand for the first time, having spent more than a decade representing the famous black jersey.
“Playing against them for the first time was such a privilege and an honour, and to do the Haka as well, to show my respect on behalf of my family to the boys and to the team I love, and I will always love.”
