100 Greatest All Blacks: Ma'a Nonu

Off the field you never quite know which Ma'a Nonu will front. He carries a chameleon gene which creates all sorts of dynamics but on the track where it counts, Nonu has been a superb All Black.

Once he got through his difficult early years as he battled through ideas about how and where to play, he has been the rock in the backline in the most physically arduous role.

His last six years in black have been remarkable while he has not always delivered the same standards for his Super rugby sides. The All Black selectors have not been deterred because they know Nonu will not cut corners in test rugby as they have learned how to extract the best from the second five eighths.

His play is explosively robust and always puts a premium on defenders. His step and power breaks the advantage line where he has become nearly foolproof in his ability to take the tackle and recycle possession. Those carries often bend defences to create chances elsewhere.

Nonu is not all bash though. He has added so many subtle notches to his game with grubber or long kicks off either foot while his passing is swift and accurate.

His feint then pop pass to Ben Smith last year against the Wallabies or the round the corner delivery to Julian Savea against England showed the range of offload Nonu has worked on.

Nonu is next in line to reach the extraordinary 100 caps mark for the All Blacks, an achievement which will be astonishing after all the episodes of being dropped, leaving the game, switching to rugby league and battling to find a Super franchise.

The 'Rock' has been just that for the All Blacks.

Statistics
Date of birth: 21 May 1982
Position: Second five-eighth
Test debut:
Matches: 89
Tests: 88
Province: Wellington
Franchises: Hurricanes, Blues, Highlanders
Test tries: 25
Test points: 125