Ma'a Nonu

He played the final game of the tournament against Australia and scored his 21st international try.

Ma'a Allan Nonu (born 21 May 1982) is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand who currently plays for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR).

He plays in the inside centre, but can also cover outside centre and wing.

He played for the Wellington Secondary Schools team in 1999–2000, and the Wellington Under 19s team in 2001.

He also played rugby league as a youngster.

He made his provincial debut for Wellington in the 2002 NPC and debuted for the Hurricanes in the 2003 Super 12.

On the back of some outstanding Super 12 form, Nonu made his Test debut for the All Blacks on 14 June 2003, starting at centre in a 15-13 loss to England.

Nonu missed selection for the 2003 Tri Nations, with the selectors preferring Umaga, Aaron Mauger and Daniel Carter in the midfield.

He was selected for the All Blacks' 2003 World Cup squad and played in pool matches against Canada, Italy and Tonga.

He scored his first Test try against Canada and was generally impressive on attack and easily breaking the line and his big stature was intimidating to the opposition.

However, question marks over his defensive game and inexperience meant he was not selected for the knockout stage of the tournament despite an injury to Umaga.

He played for the New Zealand Sevens in 2004.

Nonu missed selection for the Tri Nations in 2004 after a form slump in the Super 12.

He forced his way back into contention playing for Wellington in the 2004 NPC, and played as a substitute in all four matches on the All Blacks' undefeated end of year tour to Europe.

Standout performances included a hat trick against 2004 Super 12 champions the Brumbies.

Nonu played on the wing for much of the 2005 Super 12, with Conrad Smith preferred as Umaga's midfield partner.

Nonu played at second five-eighth for the Possibles in the 2005 All Blacks trial, scoring two tries and setting up two more to inspire the Possibles to an upset win over the Probables.

He played in the second Test against the 2005 British & Irish Lions as a substitute, replacing Sitiveni Sivivatu on the wing.

He again missed selection for the 2005 Tri Nations.

Wellington Lions captain Umaga was rested during the 2005 NPC, and in his absence Nonu was promoted to the captaincy of the team.

During the NPC, he established himself as one of New Zealand's most dangerous midfield runners.

He was selected for the 2005 All Blacks Grand Slam tour, playing Tests as a substitute against Wales and Scotland, and earning his third Test start against Ireland.

He was cited for an alleged spear tackle against Brian O'Driscoll during the Test against Ireland, but was later cleared of the charge.

In 2006 Nonu was ruled out of the Tri Nations squad due to injury, Mils Muliaina being chosen to take his place.

He damaged the base of his left thumb playing club rugby in Wellington, which required him to have surgery.

He was, however, included in the end of year tour with the All Blacks.

Due to his absence from the All Blacks Tri Nations squad, Nonu was able to play every game with the Wellington Lions in the Air New Zealand Cup, which greatly helped them.

In December 2006, Nonu expressed a desire to switch codes to rugby league and play in the National Rugby League (NRL) after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Nonu missed out on selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, with the selectors preferring Aaron Mauger, Luke McAlister, Conrad Smith and Isaia Toeava in the centres.

A move overseas was seen as more likely as he was not named in Graham Henry's 2007 squad but was instead dropped to the Junior All Blacks.

In 2008, Nonu returned to the All Blacks, starting in the majority of tests throughout the year, and regarded to be the All Blacks first choice inside centre.

He was a key member of the All Blacks' 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup winning teams, becoming one of only 43 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions.

He is regarded as one of the greatest centres to ever play the game of rugby union.

Nonu attended Strathmore Park Primary School in Wellington, then attended Rongotai College in Wellington.

At club level, he represented Oriental Rongotai in the Wellington competition.

Nonu played his first international of 2011 in a friendly against Fiji.

He played in New Zealand's first Tri-Nations game against South Africa.

The All Blacks ended up winning 40-7.

He then went on to play New Zealand's next game in the Tri-Nations against Australia where he scored the opening try.

The game against Argentina on 28 September 2013 marked a record fiftieth international game in combination with Conrad Smith.