KEY POINTS:
If the All Blacks selectors are looking for a midfielder who can win matches then look no further than Hurricanes second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu. If they are looking for players who will help them not lose those games, then look at Benson Stanley, Conrad Smith and Anthony Tuitavake.
Nonu was the dominant figure in last night's pulsating match, which doubled as an All Blacks trial. After a quiet first 20 minutes it was Nonu who broke the game open with a powerful run. He received some good ball but was just as effective with scraps. He also won a turnover and diffused a bomb.
Smith showed neat footwork but was too often cleaning up scraps after positioning himself too shallow. Stanley and Tuitavake barely rated a mention until the 33rd minute when Tuitavake beat Nonu with a trademark inside step.
Nonu may be a match-winner but he is also a target for referees, as evidenced by a harsh high-tackle rule that allowed Nick Evans to put the Blues in front.
