Ma\u2019a Nonu says he was initially reluctant to do the haka in response to the All Blacks\u2019 challenge in Durban this morning but was encouraged by former teammates Tana Umaga and Tamati Ellison after asking permission the night before.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Sky commentator Justin Marshall after the All Blacks\u2019 54-0 victory over the Sharks<\/a> at a waterlogged Kings Park, former All Black Nonu, named on the bench for the home side, gave his rationale for performing an emotional rendition of Kapo o Pango<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a spur of the moment thing,\u201d Nonu said. \u201cThey [Sharks players] asked me – I was questioned about it the night before. [But] I\u2026 didn\u2019t want it to be about myself and my history with the team. I wanted it to be about the All Blacks and the Sharks and the great rivalry.\u201d<\/p>\n All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu, playing for the Sharks, accepted the All Blacks’ challenge with a haka of his own. (Source: SKY)<\/p>\n That led to Nonu contacting the All Blacks’ assistant coaches \u2013 perhaps most notably Ellison, the current New Zealand M\u0101ori head coach.<\/p>\n \u201cI spoke to Tana and Tamati as well,\u201d he said. \u201cI asked Tamati for permission out of courtesy and respect on behalf of our team and my family and myself, and I thought it was the right thing to do to answer the boys and the All Blacks.\u201d<\/p>\n Head coach Dave Rennie confirmed the sequence of events and said he thought Nonu\u2019s response to the All Blacks\u2019 Ka Mate haka led for the first time by Ruben Love was \u201cexcellent\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThey had a conversation around it because he wanted to be respectful,” Rennie said. “He was querying what the best way was to respond to that. They encouraged him if he felt it was right to do the haka.\u201d<\/p>\n Nonu\u2019s solo performance, cheered by the supporters in the sparsely populated stands, was shown respect by the All Blacks and the 44-year-old appeared to wipe a tear from his eye as he made his way to the sideline for a place on the reserves bench.<\/p>\n There was some feeling in his first impact on the game after 62 minutes, too \u2013 a carry straight at first-five Love, who did well to bring him down.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried my best,\u201d Nonu said. \u201cIt was great to see the boys \u2013 to play against them was such a privilege and an honour.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked by Marshall how his body felt, Nonu said: \u201cI sat down too long. I should have warmed up a bit more. I mean, the All Blacks opened up in the last 30 minutes, so I was chasing my tail but fair credit to them, they\u2019re improving as well. All the best to the brothers for the next game and I can\u2019t wait to see them play.\u201d<\/p>\n