8 Jul 2010

Nonu happy to have Smith outside him

6:47 pm on 8 July 2010

The All Blacks midfield for the first Tri Nations Test against South Africa isn't short of experience but second-five Ma'a Nonu is short of match practice.

Nonu's had a long break with a knee injury and having played only a few club games after the Super 14 he's more nervous than usual.

But he says it's reassuring he'll have his Hurricanes team-mate Conrad Smith outside him on Saturday night after the centre missed the second Test win over Wales with an eye injury.