McCaw picked up a minor hip injury against Georgia last week and has been rested as a precaution.
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With qualification to the quarter-finals secured, and no real difference between finishing first or second, there’s little riding on tonight’s game (tomorrow morning, Singapore time) against Tonga. In his place will be Kieran Read, who has been the team’s go-to player this season whenever Richie McCaw’s thigh issues pose problems for the rugby team.
That left Nonu rather disappointed his skipper, the world’s most capped player with 145 Tests under his belt, would not be playing in his milestone appearance.
“Our desire is not to put on a show, our desire is to play to the best of our abilities against Tonga”, said the All Blacks No 8.
The only three previous meetings between the countries were before his time in the global arena – a 91-7 loss to New Zealand at RWC 2003, the infamous 102-0 defeat at North Harbour in 2000, and a 45-9 win for the men in black at Bristol at RWC 1999.
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Nonu strikes an imposing figure and can come across as an intimidating personality, but every All Black who’s ever roomed with him on tour comments on his meticulous nature and obsession with cleanliness.
“We’ve had a very heavy workload in the last two weeks on the training pitch and a couple of very physical games, which has been great”.
Mr Dent, a teacher from the academy, said: “We have a few very talented athletes of our own at the academy, so it has been fantastic to experience rugby at a top level”. “Ask any of us what we were like 10 years ago, though, and we’d all say the same”. “One only has to remember their last Pool match against France in 2011 to know that if you don’t turn up, they will make life hard for you”.
As for the Tonga National Rugby Union Team, the squad failed to beat the Pumas of South Africa – a situation that will require them to win this upcoming rugby match to clinch a spot in the quarter-finals.
The injury isn’t serious and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said his captain could have played. We feel like we are getting parts of it together and if we can get that right against Tonga, it will have been a really good week for us.
“Physically, we will be ready, I have no doubt about that”.
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New Zealand – B Smith; Milner-Skudder, C Smith, Nonu, Naholo; Carter, A Smith; Woodcock, Coles, O Franks, Romano, Whitewlock, Kaino, Cane, Read (capt).
