'There are going to be some personnel changes' - Leon MacDonald hints at Williams and Nonu departures

June 15, 2019
1904
Ultimate Rugby

All Blacks duo Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu may have played their last games for the Blues on Saturday.

Blues coach Leon MacDonald has hinted that Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu will not return to the team next season.

The Auckland franchise surrendered a 19-point half-time advantage to lose 29-24 to the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in their final Super Rugby match of the year on Saturday, which could prove to be the last outing for Williams and Nonu.

MacDonald's team were already out of play-off contention but capitulated against a team without key players including Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape.

Former New Zealand centres Williams and Nonu will be out of contract after the Rugby World Cup in Japan and MacDonald is preparing for a significant loss of experience in the midfield.

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"There are going to be some personnel changes, that's just natural, every year there are going to be some," he said after the loss to the Hurricanes.

"We've got our six or so [leaving], but now we've got a good understanding of where we feel we need to bolster, we can go and attack that area.

"We could be losing a lot of experience in the midfield, we're not certain of that yet, but we've got to get the right people in that midfield to help control the game with the 10s and have some good game understanding."