Ma’a Nonu performs solo haka to answer All Blacks ahead of Durban tour match

Ma’a Nonu stepped in front of his new Sharks teammates and performed a solo haka against the All Blacks in Durban on Tuesday, while listed on the Sharks’ bench after signing for the South African club a week earlier.

Nonu played 104 matches for New Zealand from 2003 to 2015 and has continued playing at the age of 44. The Sharks signed him a week ago to help develop their young players and, as their injury list lengthened, drafted him onto the bench to face the touring All Blacks; he said he was reluctant initially because he did not want to detract from the Sharks’ first match against the All Blacks in 30 years, but relented to make up the numbers.

South African teams had never replied to New Zealand’s haka with another haka until Tuesday, and Nonu spoke on Monday with New Zealand assistant coaches Tana Umaga and Tamati Ellison about answering the All Blacks’ challenge. After lining up for the anthems and watching the All Blacks’ haka, he stood alone with the Sharks arrayed behind him and the All Blacks lined up on the other side of halfway and performed Kapa o Pango to initial silence that grew into cheers; afterwards he nodded to the All Blacks and many of them nodded back.

On his decision to respond, Nonu told broadcaster SuperSport: "I thought it would be rude to say no," and added, "I thought I would put the boots on and try to help the team really." He also said, "Out of respect for our team and on behalf of myself and my family, I thought it was the right thing to do, to answer the boys and the All Blacks."

Nonu’s appearance in the match was his first time facing the All Blacks; only Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett from Nonu’s last New Zealand squad still play for the national side. He entered the game with a quarter to go and his first touch saw him collide with flyhalf Ruben Love, who was two years old when Nonu debuted for New Zealand.

The New Zealanders won 54-0 in soggy Durban. Nonu said: "I got 20 minutes. I tried my best. It was great to see the [New Zealand] boys," and added, "The All Blacks opened up in the last 30 minutes and I was chasing my tail. Credit to them, they’re improving, and all the best to the brothers for the next game."