Rugby-All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu to face New Zealand in Sharks debut


FILE PHOTO: Ma'a Nonu of New Zealand runs to score a try during their Rugby World Cup final match against Australia at Twickenham in London, Britain, October 31, 2015. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo

Aug 7 (Reuters) - New ⁠Zealand’s double World Cup winner Ma’a Nonu will ⁠line up against the All Blacks after ‌being named on the bench by the Durban-based Sharks for Tuesday’s second fixture on the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

• The 44-year-old ​centre recently signed for the Sharks ⁠in a player-mentor role ⁠and has been selected to face the side for ⁠whom ‌he made 103 appearances between 2003 and 2015.

• Nonu will start on the bench ⁠as Sharks coach JP Pietersen named a ​youthful starting XV ‌that includes Springboks Vincent Koch, Vusi Moyo and ⁠Vincent Tshituka.

• ​Prop Nemo Roelofse, who recently returned from playing in France, starts in the front row.

• The match is ⁠the second on tour for ​the All Blacks, who face four South African provincial sides and play four tests against the world champions Springboks ⁠in their first tour of the country in 30 years.Team: 15-Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14-Donovan Don, 13-Jurenzo Julius, 12-Murray Koster, 11-Litelihle Bester, 10-Vusi Moyo, 9-Bradley Davids, 8-Nick ​Hatton (captain), 7-Emmanuel Tshituka, 6-Phepsi Buthelezi, 5-Emile ⁠van Heerden, 4-Hendre Stassen, 3-Vincent Koch, 2-Eduan Swart, 1-Nemo ​Roelofse.Replacements: 16-Liam van Wyk, 17-Rambo ‌Kubekha, 18-Simphiwe Ngobese, 19-Vincent Tshituka, ​20-Matt Romao, 21-Ivan van Zyl, 22-Luan Giliomee, 23-Ma’a Nonu.

(Reporting by Nick SaidEditing by Christian Radnedge)

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