Chiefs

APV1 says...

@ new_j4a - "other favourite team"? Must be the mighty England! We won in 2003 and we've booked the 2015 RWC too (we had a chat with the Kiwis and they had a chat with the IRB, who had a chat with the Refs and it's all been sorted).

And how many "favourites" can one have without being disloyal? Let's just ask SBW how many and see what he reckons...

Posted 12:58 18th July 2012

trinats2 says...

Williams ? was that the guy who couldn't make the All Blacks starting line up and went back to league ?

Posted 12:56 18th July 2012

ruckingkiwi says...

Carpelone says, "He is afraid to complete anything he starts"

Well he won a Premiership at 18 in the toughest competition in the world.

The represented his country

And then helped win a world cup in a different code

And he has a boxing title.

I struggle to think of anyone who has done that.

What notable achievements do you have?

Posted 10:46 18th July 2012

new_j4a says...

@kiwilad, ditto....I walked right into that one... :)

Posted 10:12 18th July 2012

ArmchairGeneral says...

He's too polite. He should just tell NZ he's moving away because it's a claustrophobic culture overly obsessed in its rugby stars. He's hit the top and wants new challenges away from NZ. By hiding this insult he's given fuel to his critics. Good luck to him, totally understand why he wants to get out.

Posted 09:57 18th July 2012

tundha says...

He is an athlete and is free to pursue the best available contract he can. Why is it that the rest of us can change jobs for more money but he can't? And as for him making excuses about it not being for money....well what is he supposed to say when asked such dumb down questions! Go for it SBW....

Posted 08:25 18th July 2012

jonesy2 says...

Carpelone -- couple of things. he is the best 12 in the world by a mile the only one that comes close is nonu or JOC if he was playing 12. and he's a world champion in two sports and soon to be in the position to play for a super rugby title. i would say thats more than you will ever "finish" if you lived 100 000 times.

Posted 07:43 18th July 2012

tha_mai says...

re the mercenary comments - about 5 years ago there were 280 former New Zealand rugby players involved in professional rugby in UK/Europe; expect that figure would be higher now. Add in the 'mercenaries' from SA and Oz we could have an entire website just dedicated to criticising them?

The ITM Cup sides lose players even before they've had the chance to try for a Super contract. The province I follow, Taranaki, yesterday lost 2011's 'most promising player' aged 23, an offer he couldn't refuse from an Italian club.

It's a professional game.

And in professional sporting terms, SBW's earnings very small stuff - would he even make the top thousand earners list in regards to pay scales?

Good luck to him.

Posted 07:21 18th July 2012

Tyler_Durden says...

Fecks sake! When will this endless debate cease?? He's as entitled to pursue the best employment contract available to him same as everyone else. Thats it, no further story here.

Now what about The Reds getting a home quarter final despite not having enough points to even make the top 6. That's a story that needs some discussion??

Posted 05:02 18th July 2012

porridge_time says...

Yep tremendous athlete and all those who condemn the guy need ot ease off. At 26 he has achieved a considerable amount. He should be allowed to work and ply his trade - whichever code - wherever he wants.

There are an awful lot of people would have loved the opportunites to work and travel, but circumstances just don't allow, but in SWB is one of the lucky ones and is living his life to its potential and should not be condemned for it either.

Personally as a union fan I would preferred to see him in the Test Arena for the considerable future, but hey life moves.

I hope he does extremely well at whatever he choose to do.

Posted 00:37 18th July 2012