Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry rolls into Durban on Tuesday evening, carrying three decades of history, a fearsome Haka and a storyline with enough bite to fill Hollywoodbets Kings Park.
The Sharks face one of their biggest assignments of the season against the All Blacks, with the spotlight burning brightest on their bench where Ma’a Nonu, 44, is poised to make his Sharks debut against the country he conquered twice on rugby’s grandest stage.
The two-time Rugby World Cup winner arrived in Durban last week on a short-term deal linked to a mentorship programme. Now, the veteran centre could trade mentorship for match minutes against his former team.
“Ma’a, his name says it all and what he has achieved,” Sharks head coach JP Pietersen said.
“It’s going to be an emotional game for Ma’a.
“I think it’s the first time he is playing against the All Blacks, so it’ll be awesome to see.”
Nonu’s selection has sparked debate, with critics questioning whether a younger Sharks midfielder could have benefited from the historic fixture. Pietersen’s selection puzzle is shaped by limited resources. Jurenzo Julius starts, Springboks André Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker are unavailable, leaving Murray Koster and Julius as the available midfield options.
“It’s André and Ethan who aren’t available for us, and we’ve only got Murray Koster and Jurenzo standing. That’s obviously the reason why Ma’a’s on the bench.”
The old warrior has already become a second coach in the Sharks camp, passing on knowledge forged through more than a decade of international rugby.
“[Nonu] is giving our young boys a feel for what the All Blacks may bring to them, and also showing them some good pictures of what they may expect against the All Blacks.
“He’s slotted in like he’s been here for a long time, and the boys love him.”
After 10 years… we're back in Durban 🖤 🙌🏽
This time ~ Hollywoodbets Sharks pic.twitter.com/cMdjY66jZR
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 11, 2026
Pietersen singled out Julius, Lili Bester and Zekhethelo Siyaya for Nonu’s guidance.
“He’s been good helping Jurenzo Julius, Lili Bester and Zekhethelo Siyaya with preparing themselves for a game, and helping with the skill set going into a game.”
For Pietersen, Tuesday is bigger than a fixture on a spreadsheet. The Haka will thunder through Kings Park, turning the stadium into a cauldron.
“It’s massive, and facing the Haka in Durban is awesome.
“The last tour was 30 years ago, so we played the boys a bit of a video, just a background about how amazing it is to be part of it.
“Everybody that’s in the organisation and the players are excited – it’s been 30 years, and now you get the opportunity to fold a jersey and play against a great All Blacks team.
“It is something you can talk about for the rest of your life.”
For Nonu, the occasion could become the final chapter of a remarkable international rivalry. For the Sharks, it is a baptism by fire, with history waiting in the stands and the All Blacks waiting across the halfway line.
Teams:
Sharks – 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 Manu
Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Hendre Stassen, 3 Vincent
Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Nemo Roelofse
Substitutes: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubekha, 18 Simphiwe Ngobese, 19
Corne Rahl, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Luan Giliomee, 23 Ma’a Nonu
New Zealand – 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Kyle Preston, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson
(captain), 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Asafo
Aumua, 1 Ethan de Groot
Substitutes: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder,
20 Semisi Ta’eiloa, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni
Narawa
