sure he comes out and has big games every once in a while
but he has a lot of average games in between, hes had this uncanny ability to have a big game every time questions start to pop up regarding his selection.
he still gets visibly flustered and frustrated on the field when the all blacks are under real pressure.
I dont like him on defense, I think he generally gets an armchair ride between two of the best defenders in the world (Carter & Conrad) and when he does make a tackle he takes an absolute age to get back in line
2015 world cup time he will be 33 and IMO while he is still good he has past his peak now - how good will he be then?
"why would Hansen get rid of the most capped partnership in the world in Nonu and Conrad Smith?"
same reason all player partnerships end, they get old and past used by date, better younger options present themselves. While Conrad seems to be a better player than he was in 10-11 I don't believe Nonu is.
Any player who is going to be over 32-33 come 2015 WC will have question marks over them
Dan Carter
McCaw
Conrad
Mealamu
Hore
Woodcock
Nonu
you cant guarantee every one of these guys will still be relevant in 2015, a lot of them are already the greatest and most capped all blacks ever for the position they play, have they got another ~25+ tests in them? Or if they do get themselves there are they going to contribute to a winning side or be a liability?
I see you are a very hard person to please; I think Nonu has been superb the whole of the RC. I don't know which average games you're referring to. It is clear to me that your dislike of him is clouding your judgement of the player who is rated one of the best, if not the best, 12 in the world. Not many players of his physicality have played so many tests and avoided serious injury; that is a testament to how fit Nonu is.
34 is about the end limit of international rugby players, depending on injury; so the players you've listed about, the RWC 2015 will most probably be their last WC. However, neither of us know what will happen to them in 2 years time. But you seem to be totally discounting experience, which test players need; especially as less expenienced players are likely to have dips in their form. Those players you've listed will be vital to underpin those players in their prime and those who will only have 20-30 caps come WC time like Cane, Luatua, Piatau. I also think those younger players will actually prolong the careers of McCaw, Carter, C. Smith so they won't be knackered come 2015.
Right now the Hansen has really bringing through the youngsters and mixing them with veterans to create the perfect blend. I think Hansen will phase out the these players, as and when he thinks he has the requisite replacements, like he has done with Weepu. However, I don't think he would be giving the likes of Conrad, Carter and McCaw sabbaticals if they did not figure in his plans for RWC 2015. Also I'm sure NZRU and Hansen would not have got the Blues to take on Nonu for 2014 if he did not figure in their plans for 2015. It would be far easier to just let him go overseas.
Regarding the Nonu and Conrad Smith partnership ending; yes it will end eventually, but I doubt it will be before the next WC. The All Blacks aren't exactly blessed with strength in depth in that department and Hansen knows that this partnership works because they complement each other and have shown time time and again that they perform in the big games. That is not something to throw away before 2015. This partnership will either be Hansen's first choice for RWC 2015 or as a minimum his insurance policy if a players who do surpass them lose form. The younger options of Saili, Crotty and Ben Smith won't even have 40 caps between them come 2015 and just because they will be in their prime come 2015, does not mean they will not have bad games between now and 2015; this is where and when the experience in Nonu and Smith is invaluable to step in.
The only person who could challenge Nonu for the no. 12 jersey IMO is SBW; so if he does return in 2015, as he says he will, then he will be 30; who knows what the state of his body will be in after another year spent being battered in NRL. I just think you're kidding yourself that Nonu will be irrelevant come 2015.
