The All Black has certainly done that - but for southern fans the impact has been of the wrong sort, and to cap a less than memorable season the midfielder has been suspended for three matches.
The penalty was handed down for a tackle Nonu made on Crusaders winger Tom Marshall in the 57th minute as the Highlanders slumped to their 12th loss of the season in Dunedin on Saturday night.
After looking good for the All Blacks against France, Nonu came on as a replacement at halftime, and immediately had a kick charged down which almost led to a Crusaders try.
He put a cheap shot on Daniel Carter, which led to Nonu being issued with an off-field yellow card yesterday.
Then came the clumsy tackle, in which Marshall was tipped on to his head. That left referee Steve Walsh no option but to send Nonu off, the first such player in Super 15 this season.
Sanzar made their ruling overnight, judicial officer Jannie Lubbe saying: "The tackle was executed poorly and there was no intention to hurt the opponent. Nonu accepted that the tackle was poorly executed by lifting his opponent."
While a lower-end sanction for a tip tackle is a four-week ban, Lubbe said given Nonu's early plea of guilt and the remorse he had shown, he had ''determined to give the player a discount of one week and to suspend the player from all rugby for a period of three weeks''.
The ban means that with two rounds of the regular season left, Nonu has played his last Super Rugby match this year.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph did not defend Nonu, but said the midfielder did not seem to get on with Steve Walsh.
''You can make your own conclusions. He [Walsh] did not muck around with it. He checked two or three others but he didn't muck around with that one. He was pretty determined.
''He always tends to order Nonu off. That was three or four times he has been yellow-carded by Walshy.''
Nonu (31) is off contract at the end of the season, and has yet to announce his plans.
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said no discussion had started over whether Nonu would be re-signed.
''It is too early to talk about that and we have to get involved with the NZRU and the player agent over what Ma'a is going to do,'' Mr Clark said.
''From my perspective, what he did last night was heat-of-the-battle sort of stuff.''
Clark said Nonu could not be blamed for the Highlanders' dismal season. They are last in the competition with two games to play.
''It has been a team performance,'' Clark said.
The Highlanders are the most indisciplined team in the competition. Coupled with Nonu's efforts on Saturday night, and loose forward Jarrad Hoeata also being yellow-carded, the Highlanders have racked up 10 yellow cards, the highest number.
- Additional reporting Reuters
