Rugby: Nonu ban prevents face off for jersey

Ma'a Nonu of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

In the end it is only one week, but Ma'a Nonu's suspension will deny the public and selectors the mouth-watering prospect of him going head-to-head against Sonny Bill Williams.

Nonu was yesterday suspended from all rugby until February 28 after a dangerous tackle in their round one, 9-14 loss to the Highlanders.

He will miss the Hurricanes' match against the Crusaders in Wellington on Saturday night.

"I got one week, obviously that's a pretty fair outcome. It could have been worse," Nonu said.

That match could see the Crusaders debut Williams.

It is understood his recovery from a stress fracture is going to plan, though it is unlikely a decision will be made until medical staff get an opportunity to see how his foot reacts to today's team training.

The 25-year-old convert has emerged as the biggest challenger to Nonu's position as Graham Henry's starter at second five-eighth.

Both played significant roles on last year's Grand Slam tour but the results were inconclusive.

Williams started strongly at centre against England, with Nonu struggling a little at No12 without Conrad Smith's guidance.

Williams was then sensational against a weak Scotland side, but struggled to make an impact off the bench against Ireland or starting against Wales.

Nonu regained lost ground with a high-impact half hour off the bench in Cardiff.

One former All Black midfield star thinks Nonu still has his nose in front.

"Personally, I still see Ma'a as the incumbent and Sonny Bill has to do something special to displace him," said Walter Little.

Little played 50 tests for the All Blacks, most of them at No12 in a feared centres combination with the hard-running Frank Bunce.

He sees the second five-centre partnership as pivotal.

"I still think Ma'a has got it over Williams in regards to his combination with Conrad Smith. I daresay [the selectors] won't want to break that up in World Cup year."

Should Williams be fit and had Nonu been available, this could easily have been billed as part one of a two-part trial for the All Black No12 jersey.

Henry will have to wait until the competition's final round, June 18, for the two to potentially lock horns.

The 28-year-old Wellingtonian was in front of the judiciary for two hours yesterday as he tried to convince the panel that his charge on Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan was not dangerous.

Sanzar judicial officer Nigel Hampton QC upheld the citing after reviewing video evidence and listening to submissions, which included one from Cowan asking for leniency.

Cowan has been criticised for 'milking' the incident by staying prone on the turf, though referee Stuart Dickinson said it played no part in his decision to brandish a second yellow card.

It was revealed that Cowan apologised for his reaction after the match and Nonu yesterday did the same, saying sorry to his All Black teammate for the late charge.

Hampton said he believed the tackle was at the lower end of the scale of seriousness, but as Nonu did not use his arms in the tackle and the first impact was with his shoulder into Cowan's neck he had no option but to find him guilty, despite "mitigating factors".

This was Nonu's fourth visit to the headmaster's office.

In 2005 he was suspended for a week for a dangerous tackle against the Sharks and copped the same punishment for the same offence, against the Highlanders, three years later.

Last year he was cleared of making a reckless tackle on Stormers first five-eighths Peter Grant in the Hurricanes' 13-37 loss at Cape Town.