A rocket, then liftoff for Nonu

'We're ready to play anyone'

Chiefs reach semifinals

Three NZ teams in S14 semis

Reuters

HARD TO HANDLE: Ma'a Nonu has always been a linebreaker, but it is his improved distribution which has made him a greater threat this season.

Related Links

Chiefs edge Brumbies Hurricanes book semi spot NZ gets three into semifinals Leonard ruled out of Chiefs semifinal It's not the where it's the how, say Canes Tialata blows whistle on referee Kaplan Bring it on, says Cooper

Relevant offers

Rugby

Crusaders without Richie McCaw until April Hoeata hoping normality a prelude to lots of wins Ireland unhappy at date for France rematch Casey Laulala shifting from Cardiff to Munster Bulls to wear new pink jersey for Super Rugby How Nic Henderson turned tragedy into success Hopes fans hit the couch for Super Rugby season Microscope on Super Rugby tackle - again Otago Rugby Union slashing wage bill by 400K Conrad Smith's body still a work in progress

Ma'a Nonu sitting on the reserves bench seems preposterous now, but the Hurricanes' matchwinner is crediting his round two humbling as the motivation he needed to reclaim his status as arguably the world's best second five-eighth.

Nonu has been in imperious form over the last month and reached giddy heights again at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, busting the Reds line at will.

His two early tries opened up a 17-0 lead after 22 minutes, virtually guaranteeing the semifinal-clinching victory to ease Hurricanes' nerves.

It was all so different back after round one's flat home loss to the Waratahs as coach Colin Cooper delivered Nonu a rocket by opting for the unlikely midfield of Tamati Ellison and Jason Kawau.

Cranky at the time, Nonu admits now that it was the right call as he was resting on his laurels after last year's breakthrough season at international level.

"I had a good season and I went into the Waratahs game a bit unfit and going into the old habits.

"He [Cooper] dropped me for the second week against the Highlanders and that was pretty hard to take. But as you mature you've just got to bounce back stronger I've been trying to work on my skills the last two months and it's paid off. I'm all about playing for this team, and I want to win."

Nonu opened fire on "critics" that had turned on the Hurricanes after they lost to the Chiefs and relinquished the competition lead.

"At the time we were at the top of the table, everyone was talking us up and when we fell over last week it kind of changed. It's just kind of hard when people outside support us and then a few people turn their backs on us."

This semifinals race appeals as open as any in the competition's history, and the Hurricanes will be happy to have avoided the Crusaders, so often their finals tormenters, in the semifinals.

Nonu said he had learnt valuable lessons from being on the receiving end of the red-and-blacks' finals composure.

"They're a team 1-22, they're nothing flash, they're all about workrate in defence and attack. It's not all about the flash stuff, and we're a perfect example, we scored a lot of great tries and then we seemed to let some slip."

Nonu said the Hurricanes had no preference who they played if they reached the final.

"We're ready to play anyone. If it was the Crusaders, yeah, so be it. Bulls, whoever. We've always come up short and that's the excuse, we always say `oh, we played the Crusaders, that's why we lost'. But we knocked them off in the third week of the season and we're not too scared to play them again."

The Hurricanes have become familiar bridesmaids and Nonu said they first had to shake that mentality.

"If we keep reminding ourselves of the past we'll come up short. We've improved over the last five years and we can overcome losing in the semis."

Skipper Rodney So'oialo, a long-time team-mate of Nonu for Wellington, Hurricanes and the All Blacks, admired his coming-of-age over the last two seasons.

"He's got a great all-round game now," So'oialo said.

"His passing has come a long way and I think he's matured quite a lot. I think that's the difference between the old Ma'a and the Ma'a now.

"He's still able to break the line but yet he's got the vision to set up the backs which is pretty potent for our team. We've got guys on the outside that can finish the tries as well so if we can get clean ball, he's hard to stop."

Before turning to the serious matter of finals rugby, Nonu's first planned move was to shave off the moustache grown in a three-way bet between him, Cory Jane and Zac Guildford.

"It started in Africa it wasn't my idea but the boys pinpointed me out, they said I'd shave in a week. They actually think I'm a pretty boy, so they said `you better grow a moustache till the end of the Reds game'.

So I agreed, and if you lost and shaved you had to pay $1000 up. I didn't want to pay $1000, because at the end of the day I'm not like the other boys and I don't care what I look like as long as I play good on the field I'm happy. But I'm shaving it right now, my mum's been pestering me the last month."

- © Fairfax NZ News