Rugby World Cup 2015: Proud Nonu reaches milestone in style

Ma'a Nonu receives his 100th test cap from Richie McCaw. Photo / Brett Phibbs

For Ma'a Nonu, his achievement in playing 100 tests for the All Blacks could be seen on his head - with a special cap presented by skipper Richie McCaw which he will cherish - and also around his neck with a lolly necklace, a traditional celebratory gift for him and his teammates.

But perhaps most significantly for the All Blacks for the next week or so at this World Cup was the expression that he wore on his face afterwards. Milestone reached, yes. A popular try scored, yes. A lift in overall performance from his teammates, again yes. But it's only a step in the right direction.

They have won nothing yet, but with him back in the No12 jersey after his missed the scrappy Georgia game with a shoulder problem, this All Blacks machine looks set to shift up a gear or two. The second-half attacking performance - after they withstood some of the best Tonga could throw at them at St James' Park - was impressive, and much of the credit for that must go to Nonu and his combination with the very good Dan Carter at No10.

Sonny Bill Williams was again excellent off the reserves bench, but the All Blacks just seem a more settled side when Nonu starts.

Asked about the groove the backs settled into in the second half, Nonu said: "We got our depth right, really. They were sending a lot of shooters [lone defenders] in the first half so we had to adjust and look up. It's just our movement. Hopefully we're going in the right direction.

"Tonga put us under pressure for the first 20 or 30 minutes and as we've seen before, they played a very physical game. I thought they played really well ... it was a good hit out for us."

He's now an #AllBlacks centurion with 100 caps to his name. Congratulations to @maaveloushttps://t.co/vJDC9tbVx3

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 9, 2015

Image 1 of 13: Sonny Bill Williams takes a selfie before the Pool C match between New Zealand and Tonga. Photo / Brett Phibbs

McCaw, unavailable for the match due to a thigh injury, but who will almost certainly be available for next weekend's quarter-final against either France or Ireland, was thoughtful and eloquent when presenting Nonu with his special cap. Nonu joked that he might give it to his children or stick it in a wardrobe when he gets home, but was serious when talking about McCaw's presentation.

"It was an amazing honour for me to receive my cap from Richie ... as I've said before, he's one those inspiring players I look up to so I'm really stoked."

McCaw spoke to the good-natured crowd as much as Nonu afterwards, when he said to the player who made his test debut 12 years ago: "It's a huge achievement just to play one test let alone a hundred. Tonight you should be extremely proud.

"Like all players you have had your ups and downs as an All Black but it's a testament to your hard work and determination that you are still putting out performances like that tonight."

McCaw said he had thought long and hard about the best way to sum up Nonu "as an All Black and as a person".

"I'd say he's loyal to his teammates, would give anything to the jersey, and would give anything to the brothers beside him. He cares deeply about the legacy of the All Blacks and does everything he can to add to it.

"All the boys see the hard work you put in mate, all the hard work so you can play like a champion every week.

"Ma'a Nonu is a proud Samoan-New Zealander. He's a champion All Black, he represents his family, his teammates and his country with a huge amount of pride and respect."
He's also a very important part of this All Blacks team, with coach Steve Hansen saying Nonu could be considered as the best ever All Black No12.

"Over time he has matured into one of the best second five-eighths who has ever played for the country so he should be extremely proud," he said.