Nonu’s Haka Rejoined By History As Ruthless All Blacks Crush Sharks In Durban
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The All Blacks demonstrated a clear gulf in class as they ran in eight tries to hammer the Sharks 54-0 in a warm-up match for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour at a chilly Kings Park Stadium on Tuesday.
In short, it was men against boys; the Sharks failed to threaten New Zealand once the visitors got comfortable in possession. This marked the All Blacks’ second victory over a South African club franchise on the tour, following their win against the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
Heading into the match, heavy day-long rain in Durban raised expectations of a sloppy contest heavy on knock-ons. While the weather likely contributed to a sparse crowd at the iconic venue, fans were treated to a special moment when veteran Ma’a Nonu performed the Haka after the All Blacks had delivered theirs.
Nonu, now 44 and a World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015, recently joined the Sharks in a player-mentor role. He started on the bench against his former team.
This match forms part of the All Blacks’ warm-up schedule ahead of their four-match series against the Springboks in the revived Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
When play began, the Sharks started well and took the game to New Zealand, though their momentum was short-lived. Ruben Love spotted space in the backfield and produced a clever 50-22 kick to put the Sharks under pressure. Although the home side initially turned the ball over, the All Blacks’ quality eventually told. After regaining possession from a long Jordie Barrett kick, Fehi Fineanganofo finished off the opening score.
Despite the slippery conditions, the All Blacks continued to dominate possession. Nevertheless, it remained a memorable occasion for the Sharks’ young roster, many of whom got a rare opportunity to line up against the All Blacks and sing the national anthem.
Sharks outside back Zekhethelo Siyaya attempted a dink over the defense in the red zone but couldn’t reclaim it. Damian McKenzie thought he had capitalized for a second try, but the effort was ruled out for a knock-on. McKenzie made amends shortly after, finishing off a slick offload from Fineanganofo to stretch the lead.
Leading 14-0 at halftime, New Zealand maintained their intensity as Caleb Clarke crossed for a third try five minutes into the second half. The Sharks struggled to cope with the All Blacks’ power and sharp execution. As missed tackles mounted for JP Pietersen’s side, Fineanganofo added his second try of the evening.
Jordie Barrett, a URC winner with Leinster in 2025, added the fifth try. Nonu was introduced in the 62nd minute, but there was no respite for the veteran as scrum-half Kyle Preston dived over to make it 40-0.
At that stage, it was pure damage control for the Durban-based side, though the exposure against elite opposition will serve their young players well in the long run. Timoci Tavatavanawai added a seventh try before Sam Darry capitalized on another defensive lapse to seal the eight-try rout.
The All Blacks now turn their attention to their penultimate warm-up match against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this coming weekend, before facing the Springboks at Ellis Park in the first Test. Meanwhile, the Springboks have been watching from afar following their Nations Championship victory over Argentina on Saturday.
