Rugby: Freshened Nonu ready for South Africa

Blues coach Pat Lam and Ma'a Nonu have been in regular contact for the last month as Ricoh went into the elimination part of their season. Photo / Greg Bowker

He looks in good shape and sounds ready to rumble through his rugby season.

But Ma'a Nonu's switch to a new career with the Blues will not take much shape until he leaves this weekend with the squad for their two-match trip to South Africa.

Until then the All Black midfield back will concentrate on conditioning work in the gym and pool, setting up his new home and getting to know the players and staff on the Blues he had never met before.

Nonu arrives after playing 110 games for the Hurricanes and 66 tests for the All Blacks since he started at those levels in 2003.

The World Cup winner has been away on a four-month contract with the Ricoh club in Japan where he was part of a playing roster which included James Haskell, Hale T Pole, Tamati Ellison and Roy Kinikinilau.

"My biggest challenge is settling in this week, getting to know the players and the boys," he said.

He was also having a few issues getting his geographical bearings in Auckland and dealing with the greater traffic flows in New Zealand's largest city. He was usually nervous when he travelled with the Hurricanes to games and felt the same last Friday even though he was in the crowd at Eden Park.

Then there was the matter of fitting his 104kg, 1.82m frame into the Blues training garb for the first time.

"It was weird wearing blue," he agreed yesterday as his first week with the Blues unfolded. "I tried out my kit yesterday and it is a bit different."

Nonu has shifted north with teammate Piri Weepu after a year of ructions at the Hurricanes and an end of year exodus of other senior Super 15 players.

The 29-year-old Nonu is one of seven All Blacks in the Blues backline and one of the most dangerous midfield backs in world rugby. He chose to forgo a break after the World Cup and head for a new rugby experience in Japan.

"It was fun, I enjoyed it," he said. "I worked hard for the first month and then kind of worked my way in."

He and Blues coach Pat Lam had been in regular contact for the last month as Ricoh went into the elimination part of their season.

Nonu arrived home in time to watch the Blues lose by a point to the Crusaders in the opening round of the 2012 series. He was not tempted to play this week, he needed a break to get himself sorted before the quick trip to Africa.

He had looked after himself in Japan and did not envisage any dramas adjusting to about 22 months of non-stop rugby.

"I knew that with Ricoh and had to quickly think about that," he said. "There was a transition about playing right through. I am grateful for a break and want to work my way back in and get my body into nick again."

Nonu thought he had freshened mentally in Japan, even though he had not stopped playing. The rugby was very aerobic, there was a great deal of running but it was nowhere near as physical as other competitions.

He was now ready for the Super 15 where his preference was to play second five-eighths for the Blues.

"That's where I want to play but we will see how it goes," he said.

It was a new challenge, a new year and there were a number of midfield backs who would be pushing for All Black selection.

The Blues midfield would be in for a big night against Sonny Bill Williams and Richard Kahui who Nonu thought was the "best defender in New Zealand with Conrad Smith".