Nasi Manu would have to be right up there with the best Highlanders to never play for the All Blacks.
Over the past five years he has been, alongside Ben Smith, the most consistent player and is one the team has performed poorly without. His departure at the conclusion of 2015 will leave as big a hole as any the team has dealt with.
When one thinks of the best Highlanders to never wear the black jersey it is usually the names of John Leslie, Brendan Laney and David Latta that come to mind. Certainly all of those men were unlucky to never play for New Zealand. But surely Manu has to be in the same conversation now, at least as being one of the best Highlanders, if not ever really being considered in the All Black frame.
Each had their defining characteristics. Leslie was so tough and reliable in the midfield, skilful and capable of spotting and taking a gap. Laney could make something happen from nothing, possessed an outstanding skill set, although perhaps lacked a yard of pace. Latta was in the twilight of his career by the time the Super 12 began, but earlier in his career he was known too for his consistency, commitment, grit and speed around the park.
Yet arguably none of those men had quite the same influence for the Highlanders as Manu. The year after Leslie left the team made the final. That same year Laney did not even start in the first game, while Latta split playing time with the then-youngster Anton Oliver. Admittedly the Highlanders teams of the early years of Super Rugby were more loaded with talent than the ones in recent times. Even so, it is not hard to imagine Manu being a key player in those sides as well.
He brings with him a well-rounded game and always performs at the same high level. With ball in hand he can play the direct game, carrying strongly and creating go-forward, but is just as capable of running at a gap, looking to break tackles and offload. Far from being simply a big bustling ball runner though, he regularly goes looking for work. On defence he is relentless, providing physicality in close, agile enough to defend out wider and always seems to go looking for more work.
In support play he is similarly effective as a cleaner. Possessing outstanding technique, he rarely misses the clean out and comes in low and drives up. In his earlier days he was potent at the breakdown on defence too, capable of stealing ball, but more recently has foregone this in favour of positioning himself in the line.
They are traits that have been of huge value to this Highlanders team. He provides a point of difference. In a forward pack of grafters he brings a dynamic dimension and is largely relied upon to add momentum, while also always being amongst the team's hardest workers.
In 2013, the season from hell for the Highlanders, Manu's absence was notable. While Ma'a Nonu, Tamati Ellison, Andrew Hore and Brad Thorn were all missing for parts of the season, it was Manu that the team missed the most. The forward pack became one of hard grafters, which was fine, but it lacked any sort of spark. So often the backs were getting ball without any forward momentum. On defence they lacked his tenacity.
It was noticeable that a year later he often had close to more ball carries than the rest of the forward pack combined. In fact there were games when he made the most carries and the most tackles, creating an impact with both.
His value cannot be underestimated. That he has not been an All Black is perhaps more indicative of the quality of No. 8's in New Zealand rugby at the moment. Kieran Read has dominated the position over the past five years and will be remembered as one of the great All Blacks. Behind him there has rarely been a specialist No. 8 chosen, something which has counted against Manu.
Jerome Kaino has undoubtedly deserved his place and is equally competent wearing the six or eight jersey, perhaps an even more dynamic version of Manu. Liam Messam comes in a similar mould to Manu too, although is a tighter version and does not pose the same threat from No. 8, but his ability to play flanker is something Manu does not have. Victor Vito contrasts with Kaino and Messam, running well in the loose and then tightening up on defence, again something that probably has not helped Manu.
It is unfortunate. He is a player that would walk into any other international starting XV other than perhaps South Africa's. Imagine how much he would help the Australian team, or one of the European nations. While many of those teams have good No. 8's, none have one with the same combination of work rate and strength.
Indeed if he had been around in a different era he probably would have had a run with the All Blacks. The teams of the late 1990's and early 2000's never really had a dead set No. 8, particularly with Taine Randell's versatility seeing him switch between there and flanker. Think of all of the No. 8's that got a run during that time period: Steve Surridge, Isitolo Maka, Scott Robertson, Xavier Rush, Filo Tiatia, Ron Cribb, Paul Miller, Sam Broomhall.
Now that is not meant as a slight on any of those men, all of whom were very good Super Rugby players. But after looking at that list, would it be that far-fetched to suggest that Manu would have gotten a run in the black jersey during that period as well?
Sometimes it is just your luck as to who else is around. In the same period where Manu may have gotten a run, Laney had Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson, Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga and Glen Osbourne ahead of him and could not get a look in.
You could see why he would be frustrated, continually playing well and not getting a look in. The prospect of a contract in Europe must be tough to resist. Who knows, he may return. If he does not though, he will leave as one of the Highlanders best to never wear the black jersey and possibly the best and most consistent to pull on the No. 8 jersey.
