Sonny Bill Williams doubles down on Scott Robertson criticism as All Blacks great hits out at ‘incorrect statement’
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and former centre Sonny Bill Williams.
Former All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams maintains that head coach Scott Robertson is not making the best use of his bench.
The 39-year-old was critical of the backroom team following New Zealand’s second defeat to the Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
Williams felt that they did not manage the final 20 minutes well enough, claiming that a “coaching error” led to Tyrel Lomax’s key yellow card in the 18-12 loss to South Africa in Cape Town.
Second-half woes
Those second-half issues continued against the Wallabies as the All Blacks scored just three points after the break and none in the last quarter.
As a result, Australia mounted a comeback and were close to snatching a shock victory, only to narrowly succumb 31-28.
Some believe that New Zealand don’t currently have the players to beat the world’s best consistently, but Williams very much disagrees.
“To say that New Zealand doesn’t have the talent, I think that’s not a correct statement. I still think they have the talent,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“I just think they’re not using the players the way they should, from a coaching perspective. How they’re getting subbed, when the players are coming on and off.
“In particular how the forwards are used. South Africa has paved the way with the big boys, getting them on and off and making real impact. It’s not a fair statement to just say we don’t have the players, we don’t have the class anymore. We do, we just need to use them correctly. That’s what I see, what I believe.”
Sonny Bill Williams rues Scott Robertson’s management as Springboks ‘lead the way’
The All Blacks finished the matches well in the July series with the bench key in their 2-0 triumph over England.
However, Robertson’s men have struggled in that area in the Rugby Championship and have yet to outscore their opponents in the second period during the competition.
“One of the biggest concerns for us is that last 20 minutes,” Williams said.
“Great coaches make the bench believe you’ve got to come on and change the game and we just haven’t got it right from that perspective at the moment.
“That last 20 minutes, I don’t know if it’s a mindset thing, but we just seem to be slipping off or just not confident enough to pull the trigger. I think if we pull it back, just keep things simple.
“Let’s win the physicality battle. Let’s get up in their faces.
“I’m a big believer that when things aren’t going to plan, you simplify the hell out of it. If you do that at a world-class level then everything else will open up.”
Changes
Robertson has once again made changes in an attempt to rectify those issues, with the big calls coming in the playmaking positions.
Cortez Ratima and Damian McKenzie have dropped to the bench with TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett getting the nod for the Wallabies rematch.
“TJ, well rewarded, he’s been playing really well,” Williams added.
“He is almost in the form of his life, isn’t he? He’s playing some bloody great rugby and he was great off the bench last week.
“DMac (McKenzie) is a world-class player and he could be starting but I like him as an impact player.
“Beauden has the experience and is still a world-class player as well.”
