Both have been proven performers for the All Blacks over many years so their introduction in the victory over the Cheetahs was likely to lead to a lift in on-field quality - Nonu's poor Super Rugby form of the past few years notwithstanding - but it's what the pair offer during the week which is just as important as what they do on game day.
After successive losses in South Africa to the Bulls and Lions, the Blues were at a crossroads. Another loss against the inconsistent Cheetahs would have raised big questions about their credentials this season.
But, travel weariness pushed aside, they stuttered to a win over the Cheetahs at Eden Park before their impressively clinical victory over the Highlanders a week later. Even if Sir John Kirwan's men fail to get a result in Canberra against the Brumbies tonight, his team appears to be on the right track and that lift in consistency and intensity owes much to Kaino and Nonu.
The soft early efforts in matches have gone and having Kaino and Nonu, two notoriously hard trainers, set the standard is a huge boost.
It's probably no coincidence that their involvement in contact for the first time after the team's return from South Africa before the Cheetahs match resulted in one of their team's more intense sessions.
On the Thursday before the match, wing Frank Halai was flattened and stayed down for several minutes during a XV on XV game scenario notable for its yelling and collisions. First-five Simon Hickey limped afterwards, an ice pack on a calf knock.
None of the team's relatively inexperienced players, or the experienced ones for that matter, would want to be seen to be taking a backward step by the two World Cup winners.
Kirwan's chopping and changing early this season was an attempt to provide competition for places but it's Kaino and Nonu who have taken it to a new level. The lift in performance of loose forwards Peter Saili and Steven Luatua and midfielder Jackson Willison has been noticeable.
Willison, who will likely return to action from knee and rib problems after next weekend's bye, said: "It's in the midfield but it's also in the whole team we're we are getting that competition. It's starting to show at trainings. The intensity has picked up a bit. It's a healthy feeling because it's leading up to our games and we're starting these games with a bit more intensity."
The Blues are a team with many good role models - veteran hooker Keven Mealamu, extremely hard-working flanker and captain Luke Braid, experienced lock Tom Donnelly - but it's easy to see how the introduction of Kaino and Nonu have made them exponentially better, one that is greater than the sum of its parts.
As courageous as Mealamu is, his immediate future is clouded by his calf problem - he's no longer in the trenches, but the combative Kaino is.
Luatua, 22, is seen as a potential leader but he's still young and Kaino will have taken some of that pressure off his shoulders. Halai, Francis Saili, Charles Piutau, Tevita Li and George Moala are young backs with potential. It's easy to see how a focused and engaged Nonu can push the right buttons for them. Nonu is robust but he is also one of the most skilful in the Blues and All Blacks and that only comes from hard work.
With Kaino and Nonu on board, the Blues are going places.
Blues team to play Brumbies at Canberra Stadium at 9.40pm NZT tonight (Fri) is: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, George Moala, Ma'a Nonu, Tevita Li, Simon Hickey, Bryn Hall, Steven Luatua, Brendon O'Connor, Jerome Kaino (C), Hayden Triggs, Liaki Moli, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta'avao, Jordan Manihera, Luke Braid, Sonatane Takulua, Francis Saili, Benji Marshall.
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Joe Tomane, Tevita Kuridrani, Pat McCabe, Robbie Coleman, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen (c), Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler, Sam Carter, Scott Fardy, Ben Alexander, Siliva Siliva, JP Smith. Res: Josh Mann-Rea, Ruan Smith, Ruaidhri Murphy, Jack Whetton, Lachlan McCaffrey, Conrad Hoffman, Andrew Smith, Christian Lealiifano.
- By Patrick McKendry of APNZ
