All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said his players were expecting former All Black Ma’a Nonu to stand up to the haka when New Zealand delivered their famous war cry to the Sharks at Kings Park on Tuesday night.
Nonu, now playing for the Sharks, stepped forward after the haka and performed a Māori response alongside his former New Zealand teammates before the match.
The Sharks were subsequently beaten 54-0 in rain-soaked conditions at the Shark Tank.
“We knew it was coming,” Rennie said. “Ma’a caught up with our assistant coach Tana (Umaga) and some of the lads during the week.
“They had a conversation because Ma’a wanted to be respectful. He was querying what the best way to respond to that was, and they encouraged him.
“We thought it was excellent how it panned out.”
The All Blacks struggled to impose themselves during the opening 30 minutes, but once they gained control they shifted through the gears and pulled away emphatically.
Rennie admitted the slow start was an area of concern.
“We are trying to build the way we want to play, and the conditions made it difficult to shift the ball,” he said.
“Our defensive effort was good, but we can’t afford the starts we have had in the two games so far, so that will be a big focus for us going forward.”
Rennie was nevertheless encouraged by the All Blacks’ second-half performance as his squad continued to build towards the Rugby World Cup.
“It was all about getting more 40 under the belt,” he said. “As a team, going back to the start of the Nations Championship, we have had five games under the belt, and we have a better understanding of how we want to play.
“We have had more people enjoy a good run, and there is competition for spots.
“We have had to play the conditions, and this meant our play was not always perfect.
“We know that if we are excellent and disciplined, the ball in play is going to increase and we will be able to apply pressure.
“But every time we turn the ball over, we give the opposition time to slow the ball down.”
