Super Rugby Final
Smith, Nonu bidding for championship finish
July 4, 2015
Super Rugby Grand Final preview

One of the most enduring partnerships in New Zealand rugby history will wind up domestically in the Super Rugby grand final in Wellington on Saturday, but nothing changed this week for long-time midfield comrades Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu as they prepared to end their Hurricanes careers in the best possible way.

Smith and Nonu, both 33 and sharing the same number of Super Rugby caps, 125, will each make their All Blacks swansong - fitness allowing - at the Rugby World Cup before departing for French club contracts; Test rugby has been on the backburner this week, though.

Nonu was typically elusive before a big game, turning down numerous requests to speak to media. Captain Smith also stuck to his favoured methods, providing thought-out public words designed to keep his team-mates grounded ahead of the biggest game in the careers of many.

Hurricanes' Conrad Smith is interviewed, Hurricanes v Brumbies, Super Rugby, Westpac Stadium Wellington, June 27, 2015
Conrad Smith © Getty Images
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"You try not to get too caught up in the emotion of it and just think about what you need to do," Smith said. "Nothing changes. We want to play at a speed and tempo that creates opportunities for guys like myself. Ideally you do what's got us this far and hope that it can go one more week."

Smith's final year with the Hurricanes has been his most enjoyable at the franchise, but he says he has taken pleasure from all 12 of his campaigns, even their five-year play-off drought before this season.

Smith missed the Canes' only previous grand final appearance in 2006 with a broken leg, at a time when the Hurricanes were regular play-off contenders, but he has expressed satisfaction at having been a one-city player with both the Hurricanes and Wellington Lions.

That can't be said of Nonu, who fell out with former coach Mark Hammett and departed for modest stints with the Highlanders and Blues before returning home.

Hammett's successor, Chris Boyd, remembers a chat in Auckland last year that ultimately helped him to convince Nonu to return.

The pair haven't talked about the meeting since, and Boyd has found the burly second five-eighth more focused and easier to coach than early in his career.

"Ma'a's matured into a really complete individual," Boyd said. "He's got a great understanding of the 12 role and he's become a real giver. You can see with how he's playing that he's really enjoyed being back in Wellington."

Boyd, a former Wellington Lions assistant coach, also had plenty to do with Smith's early years, and he's admired the centre's development into a player commanding widespread respect worldwide.

"Conrad's probably the most determined individual that I've ever had anything to do with.

"He hates to lose at anything and not only has he played well this year but he's grown significantly as a leader."

Ma'a Nonu has been pivotal to the Hurricanes' success in 2015 © Getty Images
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