Photos: All Blacks v IrelandKEY POINTS:
Remember the date, June 7, 2008. That might be the date that Ma'a Nonu secured his All Black position, finally.
In these days of All Blacks haring overseas to take advantage of the huge pay cheques - oh, and let's not forget the "lifestyle" of Europe - few
could have blamed Nonu if he'd decided to take the easy way out.
An in-again, out-again player since his debut against England, aged 21, in 2003, Nonu has been an equal measure of brilliance and frustration for many rugby fans and for his selectors.
Too often, his trademark runs and line-breaking crashes were followed by a dodgy pass or a run too far that ended with him spilling the ball - a heinous crime in today's recycled ball rugby. Fans, rugby writers, coaches and just about everyone who watched rugby would sound off about Nonu's lack of nous and his inability to make the right decision and to safeguard the ball.
But, last night, in a horribly wet and cold Cake Tin, Nonu produced a near-faultless display in the All Blacks' hard-fought 21-11 win over a gallant Ireland.
If he was ever going to make a bad blue or two, last night was the night. But Nonu took the ball up well, retained it and there were none of the hasty or unthinking attempts to offload when protection was the order of the day. He made a pretty watertight Irish defence creak and groan and, finally, was on hand after a searing Dan Carter break to slide up to and over the goal line for the winning try.
It wasn't quite a perfect night. He was caught out of position on defence - another of his weaknesses in the past - when his opposite, Ireland's Paddy Wallace, scored his try as the All Blacks tried unsuccessfully to plug the gaps.
But this seems a churlish complaint given that in all other aspects of his game, Nonu was measured and safe. His distribution - or what was possible on such a bleak night - was also good and he was one of the few backs to stand out on what was mostly a forwards' night.
This may not be the be-all and end-all for Nonu. After all, it was on his home park, in front of his home crowd and surrounded by five other Hurricanes in the All Blacks side - although Munster provided the huge majority of the opposition line-up.
But, five years and 18 tests after his debut, it was a sign the much-awaited maturing of Ma'a might be here.
It is also worth noting that he stuck it out this far, preferring to keep trying for his All Black status rather than opting for expatriate riches.
