Crusaders chase unsettled All Black Nonu
MARC HINTON
Last updated 05:00 20/05/2012

The Crusaders are making a strong bid to lure All Blacks midfield back Ma'a Nonu to his third Super Rugby home in as many seasons.

Sources indicate that the seven-time champion franchise are keen to add Nonu to boost their midfield stocks for the 2013 season, with the Rugby World Cup winner said to be strongly tempted to make the move.

Nonu is currently playing with the Blues, after making an acrimonious departure from the Hurricanes at the end of the 2011 campaign.

But with the Blues' season lurching from bad to worse, it's understood Nonu has been less than settled in Auckland, and may be tempted by the opportunity to play with the quality Crusaders outfit.

The 66-test midfielder, who turns 30 tomorrow, has failed to find his best form with the Blues, but still remains an automatic selection at the highest level.

The Crusaders have lacked game-breaking quality in the No 12 jersey and it's understood they have put a priority on finding some for next season.

Nonu's All Blacks rival Sonny Bill Williams had an outstanding 2011 Super Rugby season at second-five with the Crusaders, but moved to the Chiefs this season, where he has continued to excel.

Nonu refused to answer Sunday Star-Times' questions about his plans for next season, and Crusaders boss Hamish Riach said the organisation never commented on players being recruited until contracts were signed.

But Riach did confirm the Crusaders were already looking at contracting players for next season, even though the current campaign would not end until August.

"You're always planning, thinking ahead and always talking to people," Riach told the Star-Times.

"The contracting window is very long, and those conversations are always going on at appropriate times within the campaign.

"We're continuing to work away, and we're happy where we're at."

Riach also confirmed that the hastily built Addington Stadium had been a salvation for the franchise, who lost their home venue in the February 2011 earthquake.

"It's everything to us. The travels of last year were quite unique and the guys did extraordinarily well. But if they had to repeat that they couldn't have kept performing at any sort of level."

But he also revealed the financial limitations that the 17,500-capacity venue placed on the Crusaders.

"We need to sell out each game to approximately break even. It's a model that does see us survive if we can attract around 17,000 each week which we've managed.

"But in terms of kicking on in any really big way we simply need a bigger stadium."

The Christchurch council closes submissions on its draft annual plan tomorrow, and that includes a proposed new stadium.

"We will be submitting in favour of a rectangular roofed stadium with a capacity around 35,000," said Riach. "Hopefully in somewhere between three to seven years we should be moving into the best stadium in the country."

Riach also confirmed both Canterbury and Crusaders rugby were still discussing business interruption claims with insurance companies.

"We hope once those are resolved, if we can keep our nose above water with the new stadium, we will get through this most trying of periods in reasonable shape."

- © Fairfax NZ News

Possibly.




Eugene will be pleased. Compromised, nah, not at all.

Carter and Nonu have done quite well when they have played together, it would be good for Nonu to come to a team like the Saders.

More interesting is the fact that Canterbury and Crusaders rugby want a stadium with a roof. Please let it be so.

Nonu is not happy in Orkland, that much is clear. My money would be on a shift back to Wellington and the Canes but if the Worlds best test 12 wants to come to the Saders I would be very happy, very happy indeed.
I am sure most Saders fans would be, lets face it, Crotty is no Nonu.

According to the NZ Herald, "You won't catch any Breakers showing up out of shape in pre-season and remaining that way, much to the chagrin of his team-mates." The obvious implication here is that Breakers management would file World Cup folk hero Piri Weepu under D for Dickhead.

But one person's dickhead is another's free spirit. What's more, dickheads can be great players...

...Another All Black hero and new Blue copping flak is Ma'a Nonu. There was outrage in the capital last year when he was given the boot by new Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett, but if the rumour mill can be trusted, the Nonu dossier would sit right next to Weepu's in the Breakers' filing cabinet.

Hammett played for and cut his coaching teeth at the Crusaders, an organisation that has adhered to the Blackwell doctrine from the word go. Yet I have it on excellent authority that former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, the most successful coach in Super Rugby history, coveted one player above all others: Ma'a Nonu

Crusaders supporters have shared their thoughts in the other thread.

I searched all the thread titles, so what other thread?

For Nonu's sake I hope it happens. He would look a different player in that set up.

For the sake of bored humour I hope it happens. The hypocrisy from some of the Crusader fans would be delightful.

For the sake of the other NZ S15 franchises, I hope he stays with the Blues.

I searched all the thread titles, so what other thread?

Something about poaching.

... anyway, if Ali Williams can come to the Crusaders and behave and play like a consumate professional then so can Nonu. I'm not so sure his style is needed in the current Saders midfield. I'd sooner welcome back Bateman or Burleigh.

I can't get excited about this either way.

It has been sad to see him so out of form this season. If he did end up down here hopefully the different set up would get him back on track. I certainly wouldn't want an out of form Nonu playing for us.

Well, other than Fruean they've not got any PI players currently, so there's a couple of roster spots open.

Pretty sure everyone of the Crusaders players were born on a Pacific Island.

What is your point again?

Yet more shameless poaching from the greediest, most self-serving province in NZ.
Canterbury/Crusaders catchcry seems to be 'Fuck you Jack, as long as I'm OK'.
Disfuckingusting.

PS; that Blose backline without Weepu and Nonu is going to be piss-weak.

I fucking hope so, lazy prick.

What's happening with Weepu SG?

We would be much better off with Stanley at second five and a decent centre, which we may have to go looking to find. That bloke from Southland maybe.

C'mon FOG, think of the fun to be had, the hours and hours of Bored craig.

Fine by me ... he most certainly needs the discipliner - and thrives when unable to flounce around like he had in his last two franchise's ...
Henry was the type of coach he needs - a headmaster type.

We most desperately need a new 2nd - five ...

Its plainly stupid to have such a good player playing so badly for much of the super season.