tha_mai says...

at last: 13 August: "Sonny Bill Williams has been cleared to play for the All Blacks in the opening two Bledisloe Cup tests against Australia and will join them in training in Auckland today"

On with the game. I will be in the Straits of Malacca next weekend, fending off pirates maybe, no time for offloads or rucking unfortunately. look forward to educated comment on the weekend's games. Let the poorly-named Rugby Championship begin!

Posted 01:00 13th August 2012

melkdave says...

The simple fact is atm SBW is the best 12 in the world ,and if available any coach would pick him to start..The sad fact is he now is a panasonic wild knight now ,and its upto his employers if his available not SBW,The japanese league starts and overlaps the RC so its most probable that SBW wont play for New Zealand in the RC at all.Of course if C.Smith was fit their wouldnt be all this uproar.Personnally i think T.Ellison will start with M.Nonu against the wobblies ,and NZ will still win big

Posted 14:17 12th August 2012

Trinats2 says...

cuw3100:

Bolt and SBW in the same paragraph ???, what are you on ??? Only comparison is that both have been on TV this month. Bolt is a legend in his international sport and a role model to millions. SBW can't even get a start in his sport !

"Many people have negative comments" There is a reason for that and it's not your wet dream ! it's because he is over rated in League, Boxing and Union. All credit goes to his manager, who will turn Cooperman into a Boxing champion by setting him up with some over the hill and overweight dinosaur !!!!

Jmanngod:

Eddie jones is doing everything in his powers to get SBW in the ABs, we don't want to face Nonu.

Posted 12:46 12th August 2012

cuw3100 says...

People wonder why the MIB want SBWso badly. Maybe because IMHO, he is one of the top 4 centers in NZ and 2 are injured. Conrad Smith, Maa Nonu, SBW and Richard Kahui are the leading candidates. Smith is out for 2-3 tests and Kahui for the season, so it is Nonu and SBW.

An option is to play DC at 12 and Someone else at fly half, which was done in the past. However given the form SBW is in and the considerable improvement shown since he changed to Union rules, not to mention the X - Factor he brings to a game, any team would want him to run on.

Many people have negative comments for SBW. Me thinks its because of the unbelievable talent he has as a gifted athlete, starting from his giant physique!! Usain Bolt has many distractors, who am sure would love to be able to run 100m in 9.5 seconds. Simillarly there must be many rugby fans who in their dreams make that unbelievable off load that leads to an amazing try to win the cup :)

Posted 08:22 12th August 2012

tha_mai says...

while we have other headline 'Wallabies preparing to face SBW' - is this just a game from Hansen and SBW not to play at all; can only be disruptive for the rest of the team not knowing for sure what final combinations will be. I was 'for' SBW playing, but this close to a test, 'no thanks' and lets move on, get on with the team that will be playing the whole tournament.

Posted 01:46 12th August 2012

Jmanngod says...

this is so typical of the Japanese... I sense the input of Eddie Jones here as well. This is the only way they ever get to compete against NZ ....by stuffing around with contracts. SBW will hate his experience in Japan; the top players always do. NZRFU should just tell nippon to get stuffed and play him anyway.

Posted 21:39 11th August 2012

QKRAM79 says...

Why is this guy still making headlines? The ABs don't even need him. Concentrate on guys who care about Zew Zealand and rugby union.

Posted 18:16 11th August 2012

5Lock4ward says...

If he's not a long term solution for the AB's then why bother jumping through hoops to keep him? Blood the next chap in line and keep it moving. If Conrad Smith were available now this wouldn't even be an issue.

Posted 12:14 11th August 2012

Jediboy says...

Shouldnt the ABs be looking to the future and pick another centre. Bearing in mins he is leaving NZ the future of the ABs must be more important than the career of one player. And let's face it, there's no shortage of quality players to choose from.

Posted 11:15 11th August 2012