Victor Matfield’s ‘not a bad idea’ verdict on Ma’a Nonu’s bombshell Sharks move
All Blacks great Ma'a Nonu and an inset of Victor Matfield
Victor Matfield has reacted to the Sharks’ bombshell signing of Ma’a Nonu, who joins the Durban-based team in a leadership and mentorship role.
The United Rugby Championship franchise confirmed the arrival of the All Blacks legend over the weekend, with Nonu extending his career despite being 44 years old.
Having played over 100 times for New Zealand, earning his last cap in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, the midfielder has continued playing club rugby in New Zealand, the United States and most recently France, where he enjoyed a second stint at RC Toulon, becoming the oldest player to feature in the Top 14 and Investec Champions Cup.
Now, his attention moves to Durban, where he will be tasked with developing the young players at the Sharks as well as assisting the team in building their club culture.
Victor Matfield reacts to Ma’a Nonu’s Sharks move
While there is a chance that Nonu will still pull on a Sharks jersey during his time in Durban, his main remit will be sharing the knowledge he has gained during his playing career, which has spanned over 20 years.
Speaking on The Rivals podcast, Matfield offered his reaction to the legendary centre’s signing, stating that he believes that it’s a great opportunity for the Sharks to tap into his knowledge of the game.
“There was a post I saw with JP Pietersen, who is the coach now, and he is 40, and Ma’a is 44. It’s a really interesting signing,” the former Springboks captain said.
“I know he’s 44, but I think to get him into the system and just to tap into some of his knowledge is not a bad idea.”
However, the former lock added that the same Nonu who used to terrorise South African defences won’t be arriving in Durban.
“Don’t know how much he will play, but I mean to get him there to get his knowledge of the game, to get some of the IP out of him,” he continued.
“He has got a lot of knowledge about the game, and he was a fantastic player. From the few times I’ve seen him play for Toulon last year, he is not the Ma’a Nonu that we knew when he was playing for the All Blacks, but he’s still not a bad player.”
Sir John Kirwan’s verdict
Matfield appeared on the show along with former All Blacks winger Sir John Kirwan, who coached Nonu during their shared time at the Blues.
Kirwan believes that this is not just a great opportunity for the Sharks but for Nonu too, who will have to hang up his boot eventually and take look at what he is going to do after rugby.
“I think it’s a great transition for Ma’a,” he explained.
“He’s been an amazing athlete. I mean, I love the guy. I coached him. He’s an amazing man.
Ma’a Nonu: All Blacks legend reveals why he has signed for the Sharks
“It’s a great transition for him to be a mentor-player. I hope he’s more of a mentor than player because I think that’s an important role for him. He’s got the rest of his career ahead of him from a non-playing point of view. Victor will say this: it’s even for the most balanced person, it’s still a pretty scary time. And although Ma’a has played at the highest level at 44, he still has a life ahead of him and what that might look like.
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“I faced the same. Victor faced the same. At the end of my career, I didn’t want to go back to being a butcher, did I? So, I had to do something. I went into management.
“So, I think it’s a really good transition for Ma’s as well. I think it’s a win-win. It’s smart. He has got a heck of a lot of knowledge; he runs a hard ship – he is so disciplined. To play until you’re 44.
“He will lead by example. I think it’s a good call.”
READ MORE: Calls for Sharks to play Ma’a Nonu against the All Blacks after ‘shrewd’ Durban move
