All Blacks: Nonu keeps focus on job at hand

Ma'a Nonu says he trains every week as if it's his last. Photo / Getty Images

Put yourself in Ma'a Nonu's boots.

A rock in the All Blacks backline for the past two years after spending years searching for consistency, it was only three months ago that Nonu was the hero against South Africa in Soweto.

On that occasion he beat John Smit on the outside before throwing an inch-perfect pass to Israel Dagg as the All Blacks stole victory at the death.

Now he's the guy denying the Irish the chance to witness rugby's newest superstar, Sonny Bill Williams.

So what does he do? Does he look to go out and make a statement, to reaffirm his status as the most damaging midfield runner in the game, or does he relax and wait for the game to come to him, safe in the knowledge that the selectors believe the Nonu-Conrad Smith combination is still the best?

"People think [Sonny and I] are similar players, but we're different in our skills. I just have to play the best I can with my experience. That's all I can do," Nonu said.

Nonu says he welcomes the challenge from Williams and you believe him. Wherever one is on this tour, the other is not far behind. He and Smith have spent time integrating Williams into the All Black systems, but more than that, Nonu likes the bloke.

"We've become close in the past two weeks or so. We've become great mates," the Wellingtonian said. "He's a good dude when you get to know him.

"Everyone knows his background and there's no hiding away from what he did last week.

"We've said it before, he's a great footballer. There was no surprise."

Nonu and Williams might be kindred spirits, but on the field it is Smith that has consistently got the best out of him. They might make an unlikely Ponch-and-Baker duo in terms of personality and style, but it works.

"We have a lot of cues so we know what's going on," Nonu said.

The 28-year-old has added motivation. Whenever the All Blacks play Ireland, someone will remind him of 2006 and the time Brian O'Driscoll made him look silly on the way to the tryline in Hamilton.

New Zealand won, but it was a black mark against Nonu's name that he has not been allowed to forget.

Back then he was in and out of the side, unsure of his place in the great scheme of things, and would eventually miss World Cup selection.

Maybe because of that he never takes selection as a fait accompli, something that would have made the sudden emergence of Williams easier to deal with.

"I'm always nervous on selection day. You can never take your place for granted," he said.

"You've got to train every week as if it's your last."

If Graham Henry's selection problems are of the desired who-to-leave-out kind, counterpart Declan Kidney's issues are more complex. With several players out of form and his team misfiring against South Africa and Samoa, they need a big performance to restore the public faith.

"We know better than anybody else our performances have been below what we're capable of in the last two matches," Kidney said.

"If you're playing against New Zealand, who are playing at the top of their game at the moment, we have to be firing on all cylinders."

Fear is their friend tomorrow, said Kidney.

Which is where the All Blacks have a natural advantage. They're pre-programmed to fear losing.