"Ma'a Nonu v Jordie Barrett" - 3 Key Battles: Sharks v All Blacks

New Zealand have faced the Sharks’ predecessor, Natal, six times, winning five and drawing one. Their first meeting came in 1928, with further victories following in 1949, 1970, 1976 and 1992, while the 1960 encounter ended 6-6. Four of those matches were played at Kings Park, making tonight another chapter in a rivalry that stretches back almost a century.

There is even a family connection. All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke’s father, Eroni, played twice in Durban, featuring for New Zealand against Natal in 1992 before returning six years later to face the Springboks. Now, though, the focus turns to a new generation – and one remarkable old hand. Ma’a Nonu, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner with the All Blacks, is set to make his Sharks debut at 44 against his former country.

With a first-time All Blacks captain, emerging Springbok talent and two hugely intriguing fly-halves also involved, here are three key battles that could decide tonight’s clash.

There is something wonderfully ridiculous about this matchup. Ma’a Nonu won his final All Blacks cap in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time before walking away from Test rugby alongside an extraordinary cast of New Zealand legends.

Richie McCaw. Dan Carter. Conrad Smith. Keven Mealamu, they all hung up their boots in the following seasons. Now, more than a decade later, Nonu is still going at his bull-dozing best. The 44-year-old continued his remarkable professional career with San Diego Legion in the MLR, before a stint with Toulon proceeded his arrival in Durban. Last season, he even became the oldest player to score a try in the decorated French first division, at 43 years and 131 days old.

Now he has been named on the Sharks bench, meaning the rugby world could get one of its strangest and most compelling sights when Nonu eventually enters the field: the veteran All Black lining up against New Zealand in a Sharks jersey. And if the match develops as expected, he could find himself opposite Jordie Barrett.

Barrett is arguably the world's premier No.12 right now, having spearheaded the Hurricanes to Super Rugby glory and formed a formidable midfield partnership with Chiefs star Quinn Tupaea during New Zealand's recent Nations Championship campaign. The contrast could hardly be greater as we head into Kings Park, with this incredible midfield 'what if' headlining our key battles.

Nonu built his reputation on brutal carries, devastating contact and an ability to bend defensive lines with sheer physicality. Barrett brings a more modern package, combining size with distribution, kicking and an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the game. Nonu made 103 Test appearances for New Zealand, scoring 38 tries, and played in four Rugby World Cup tournaments. Barrett, meanwhile, was only 18 when Nonu won his second World Cup and has since grown into one of the central figures of the new All Blacks era.

If Nonu gets onto the pitch, this becomes more than a midfield battle. It becomes a meeting between one of rugby's greatest-ever centres and the man now carrying the responsibility of defining the position for the next generation. One is trying to prove he still belongs. The other is trying to prove he is already the best.

Luke Jacobson will captain the All Blacks for the first time in his career tonight, with Ardie Savea and Scott Barrett seemingly being rested ahead of the upcoming Test series against the Springboks. It is a fitting reward for a player who has quietly become one of the most trusted forwards of Dave Rennie's early tenure.

“Luke is the obvious choice to captain the team against the Sharks. He is highly respected, has a great feel for the game and will lead through his actions,” Rennie said.

Jacobson has been in outstanding form for the Chiefs and held down the All Blacks' No.7 jersey during the recent Nations Championship campaign. Against France, for example, Jacobson played a crucial role in the decisive passage of the match. With New Zealand chasing a late score, he fought his way out of a tackle before producing an outstanding offload to Will Jordan, who raced clear to score in the 70th minute.

It was classic Jacobson. Physical, relentless and willing to do the dirty work before producing something unexpected. He also started against Italy and Ireland, further underlining the faith Rennie has placed in him. Now he gets the ultimate leadership test, as he leads out New Zealand for the first time in his international career.

Opposite him is Phepsi Buthelezi, a player with his own ambitions of breaking into the next generation of Springboks, with little over a year to go before the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Buthelezi made his Test debut against Portugal in 2024 but has struggled to turn that opportunity into a sustained run in the national side. His versatility remains one of his greatest strengths, with the Sharks forward also more than capable of operating at No.8.

He recently featured for the South Africa A side against Zimbabwe, providing another opportunity to put his name in front of the national selectors, in which he took the eight-man role in junior green and gold. The Sharks host the All Blacks, and Buthelezi has a chance to demonstrate that he belongs closer to the Springboks picture.

For Jacobson, it is about proving that he can be more than a trusted squad member and establishing himself as a genuine Test contender. For Buthelezi, it is about forcing the door open. And with the All Blacks captaincy sitting on Jacobson's shoulders, this could become one of the most physical battles on the field.

There is plenty of excitement surrounding Vusi Moyo, with as the Sharks fly-half prepares to make only his second appearance for the Durban side as he takes the reins in the 10 jersey. However, what makes Moyo quite the prospect, is how he has also made a test appearance for the Springboks in his career. That alone tells you how quickly this young man's career has accelerated.

Moyo was thrown into the deep end during South Africa's Nations Championship campaign this summer, training with the Springboks before being handed his international debut against Wales at his very own Durban ground of Kings Park. The 20-year-old, rightfully, looked completely at home. Despite having only one previous URC appearance for the Sharks – against Zebre – Moyo showed remarkable composure during his 47 minutes on the international stage.

He kicked three conversions, defended his channel bravely and, most impressively, created Jesse Kriel's try with a superb cross-field kick. Doing that in front of a home crowd at Kings Park was one thing, yet doing it against the All Blacks is another challenge altogether. Sharks coach JP Pietersen has embraced the philosophy that “if he’s good enough, he’s old enough”, and Moyo is perhaps the clearest example of it.

Now he gets the opportunity to test himself against Ruben Love. The All Blacks fly-half position remains one of the most fascinating selection debates in New Zealand rugby, and Dave Rennie has made it clear that form will be rewarded. Love certainly deserves his opportunity, as the Hurricanes playmaker was instrumental in the Wellington side's Super Rugby title-winning campaign, building a superb understanding with scrum-half Cam Roigard. That partnership has translated impressively into the All Blacks environment, with the halfbacks tearing up trees in the Nations Championship.

The tour opener against the Stormers, however, saw Beauden Barrett return to the No.10 jersey as Ruben was rotated out. But Barrett returned without producing his trademark best, which has kept the door open for Love to recalim his spot for the Test series. Love now has the perfect opportunity to remind Rennie why he should be the man wearing No.10 when the serious business against the Springboks begins.

A dominant showing against the Sharks could put serious pressure on Barrett and strengthen Love's claim to the jersey. But Moyo has a similar opportunity on the other side, he has already shown that he can step onto the international stage without looking overwhelmed. Now he has to show he can control a game against the All Blacks.

Two young fly-halves. Two coaches searching for answers, and potentially two players who could emerge from Durban with their stock significantly higher than when they arrived. Tonight could be a huge step in both careers.