From a South African perspective. Definitely one of the greats. Some Springboks considered him a great guy on and off the pitch, although he was a tough competitor.
Agree it took him a long time to adjust from super to Test Rugby..his passing was poor at the start and had no kicking game..but credit to him he sought help from xall blacks etc..once got confidence and belief his game went to another level..yes the old hard work ethic paid off big time..
The fact that he was bumping off defenders and showing off his skills during his Blues days shows how much effort and consistency this man has. Keep in mind he was in his mid 30s when he was in the Blues
The Nonu and Smith partnership is one of or dare I say the best All Black centre combinations we’ve ever had. Consistently solid and they complimented each other so well. Nonu in his prime was a phenomenal player, who always seemed to work hard on his skills, fitness, discipline and mental fortitude … to produce the goods on the pitch every year. Definitely my favourite All Black 12 🤙🏽
When he first came on the scene he was a really limited player in fact, just quick and bit of bash. He incorporated kicking and a huge array of passing skills into his game over the years. Indeed a true great of the game.
It's definitely between him and Phillipe Sella, first player to reach 100 test caps and that was during the amateur era. My wishlist is to have seen them as a centre pairing.
Got to see him play here on the MLR here in the states and got to meet him afterwards. What a stud man. I watched this guy my whole life and modeled my game after him. Goat 12 for sure 💪🏾
1:10 not sure if picking a fight with Richie is the smartest move all things considered. Nonu an absolute great - consistent 8/10 performer in the black jersey and Rieko would do well to learn a thing or two from him
Think you must be wearing your racist goggles if you're talking about the tackle that put O'Driscoll out of the Lions tour.... or do you think all Samoans look alike? That tackle was unfortunate, but no-one who knows NZ rugby would believe it was intentional of either player involved... both Umaga and Mealamu were highly respected and clean players their entire careers.
@@jpowell2603 Phillipe Sella was just 84 kg. He’s rated as the best centre to grace the rugby field by all pundits. He was definitely second to Gerber. Nonu doesn’t feature as a great centre.
Gerber scored 2 trys in 92 but so what ..how long did he play for after that..fyi..Nonu played 103 Tests 126 Hurricanes 39 Blues Auckland 93 Toulon France San Diego Legions Nth America. 2 games Ngati Porou East Coast..
From a South African perspective. Definitely one of the greats. Some Springboks considered him a great guy on and off the pitch, although he was a tough competitor.
Agree it took him a long time to adjust from super to Test Rugby..his passing was poor at the start and had no kicking game..but credit to him he sought help from xall blacks etc..once got confidence and belief his game went to another level..yes the old hard work ethic paid off big time..
I consider Danie Gerber and Phillipe Sella the greatest centres
@@fletmok3548 I would counter with Nonu and Brian O Driscoll
best centre of all time, from a bok fan. BOD never dismantled us quite like Nonu used to
Especially when you consider how consistent of a thorn he was.
The fact that he was bumping off defenders and showing off his skills during his Blues days shows how much effort and consistency this man has. Keep in mind he was in his mid 30s when he was in the Blues
When I was younger and see nonu, Smith and Carter in the backline I knew it was gonna be a tough night for us ((, springboks))
The Nonu and Smith partnership is one of or dare I say the best All Black centre combinations we’ve ever had. Consistently solid and they complimented each other so well.
Nonu in his prime was a phenomenal player, who always seemed to work hard on his skills, fitness, discipline and mental fortitude … to produce the goods on the pitch every year. Definitely my favourite All Black 12 🤙🏽
Yeah nonu and smith dominated the centre positions in new Zealand rugby during the 2000s
Fark Hansen and co for not taking him to the 2019 World Cup. His leadership was missing in that young backline
Nonu and Conrad smith my favorite ABs midfield combo ever!!!🔥💯
When he first came on the scene he was a really limited player in fact, just quick and bit of bash. He incorporated kicking and a huge array of passing skills into his game over the years. Indeed a true great of the game.
It's definitely between him and Phillipe Sella, first player to reach 100 test caps and that was during the amateur era. My wishlist is to have seen them as a centre pairing.
Best 2nd5 in history
@Hold Fast can u read? NO1
The rock. Absolutely fearless.
You know he’s a great when he doesn’t take crap from another great RM7
Best part of the video lol. Richie ya overrated Pukio! #TGWHope
@@AreLL yeah no sorry bro. You’re overrate! 🤦🏾♂️🙄
@@AreLL RM was the better footballer bro by a mile. Nonu even says so.
The best 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
Got to see him play here on the MLR here in the states and got to meet him afterwards. What a stud man. I watched this guy my whole life and modeled my game after him. Goat 12 for sure 💪🏾
Greatest 12 of all time!!! Name someone better?...
Heaps of power' great feet. Yer bro
Nonu makes any wingers look good.
Awesome video! MA'A NONU💪
Thanks bro🤟🏾
All Blacks biggest mistake not taking him to the 2019 worldcup.Thats y Manu Tuilagi demolish the ABs midfield at the semis.
Agreed, Tuilagi was and also will be a poundshop Manu.
He......retired.....????? Lmao😂
Fire clip uso keep it up big dawg💪🏾💪🏾💯
Thanks uzoo🤟🏿
I believe that's a thousand percent True
Nice.
Monday ngt - May 30, 2022.
Haha skux delux - lessgo welly 04 forever!
Remember when the Boyz thought wearing eye liner was cool Coz of ma'a
Just you ya Hobo
Vaaaatos Locos ⚜️
Nice uso love your work
Thank u uso appreciate it🤟🏾
I only clicked the vid because I saw Jerry collins
სუპერ'ვარსკვლავი!
New Pacific brothers are coming up..... this is the old version....
True true
0.28 es el Gran Jonah Lomu
Where was Ma'a during the 2019 World Cup they could've won
no they wouldnt lol
1:10 not sure if picking a fight with Richie is the smartest move all things considered.
Nonu an absolute great - consistent 8/10 performer in the black jersey and Rieko would do well to learn a thing or two from him
Awesome vid bro
What song bro?
Deadly though
Thanks bro, NME - No Reason 🤟🏾
Danie Gerber
Stephen Donald got done lmao
You obviously haven't heard of Danie Gerber......!!!
Make up with or without which played better 😂😂
I don't no bout ...vato lako lol
IYKYK
Made me 🤮 seeing him in a blues jersey..😅
Where's the tongan flag lol isn't he tongan samoan 😆🇼🇸🇹🇴
Brian O'Driscoll, Tim Horan, Phillipe Sella and many others may disagree...
Nonu never came out as bi but I know 120% fact he swings both ways but hid it from the public
Stop it
Sorted O’ Driscoll out “ fairly “ - is this New Zealand rap - awful
Think you must be wearing your racist goggles if you're talking about the tackle that put O'Driscoll out of the Lions tour.... or do you think all Samoans look alike? That tackle was unfortunate, but no-one who knows NZ rugby would believe it was intentional of either player involved... both Umaga and Mealamu were highly respected and clean players their entire careers.
@@hannotn you can play the race card all you like - people without a valid argument often do - O’ Driscoll was deliberately taken out
@@chrisbaxter3597 but not by Nonu. That was Umaga and mealamu
@@liamthumath7494 I agree - apologies for that in my drunken state I connected wrong player to wrong name - still deliberate though
Good but nowhere near Danie Gerber
Much much better than your guy Gerber! Plus Nonu has 2 world cup titles under his belt😉
@@jpowell2603 that’s just concreter and scaffolder talk mate. Gerber was in a class of his own.
@@ClevelandSteamer99 thats debatable. Gerber played in the amateur era, nowadays athetes are bigger and faster just saying.
@@jpowell2603 Phillipe Sella was just 84 kg. He’s rated as the best centre to grace the rugby field by all pundits. He was definitely second to Gerber. Nonu doesn’t feature as a great centre.
Gerber scored 2 trys in 92 but so what ..how long did he play for after that..fyi..Nonu played 103 Tests
126 Hurricanes
39 Blues Auckland
93 Toulon France
San Diego Legions Nth America.
2 games Ngati Porou East Coast..