Sonny Bill Williams snaps back at incredible rant from pundit who claims ‘unforgivable’ All Blacks are ‘heading down the same path as Wales’
Last Saturday's All Blacks loss has ignited criticism in New Zealand
Sonny Bill Williams has snapped back at a New Zealand pundit whose incredible weekend rant ended with the suggestion that the Kiwi national anthem should be changed to the one used by lowly Wales.
It was last month when the Welsh finally managed to end their record 18-Test winless streak – and Mark Watson, a Sport Nation show host, has now suggested that the All Blacks should adopt Hen Wlad fy Nhadau as their pre-game song.
Beaten four times in 2024, Scott Robertson’s side have now lost 23-29 to Argentina in Buenos Aires in round two of this year’s Rugby Championship.
It was the All Blacks’ first loss in five 2025 Test matches, but Watson claimed their results under Robertson likened the All Blacks to the beleaguered Welsh, who have just appointed Steve Tandy as their new coach following the exit earlier this year of Warren Gatland.
‘Simply unforgivable’
New Zealand’s loss to Argentina was the first time they were ever beaten on Argentinian soil and it has provoked a stirring reaction, including Watson’s broadcast.
What was said jarred with Williams, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner, who took to social media to post his response to Watson’s criticisms which, aside from the barb about Wales, alleged that All Blacks captain Scott Barrett shouldn’t be in the team and that assistant coach Jason Ryan was too smug.
Williams said: “Can we not just accept other nations have improved? Can we just appreciate how good international rugby is at the moment and how good the Pumas and Wallabies have been this international window? PS: Anyone else excited for All Blacks v Boks at Eden Park?”
Williams was responding to a 110-second clip on X of Watson voicing his criticisms about the All Blacks. “What a disastrous performance from a proud nation,” began the clip. “Simply unforgivable.
“The All Blacks get beaten 29-23 in one of the worst All Black performances I have seen in my lifetime of watching rugby. This [Argentina] is a country where rugby is not their No.1 sport.
“It’s still a minority sport. Their club competition is still amateur. They don’t have a coaching group like the All Blacks do. They don’t have 25 backroom staff.
“Discipline. It always seems to come back and bite us. We just don’t seem to have this ability, do we, to learn from week to week to make the adjustment.
“Scott Barrett, why is this guy the All Black captain? He’s not even good enough to start. I look at Jason Ryan, he comes across so damn smug in the media at times. What has this guy done? Where does the smugness come from? We lost four Tests last year.
“What the hell is going on with New Zealand rugby? And if you think I’m being a little wet, if you think I’m going off my nut and I am being a little over the top, you are part of the problem because you are starting to accept All Black losses.
“I used to be the norm. It is not good enough. We should be demanding more. This is who we are, man. We are supposed to be the best rugby nation in the world.
“Let’s get rid of the New Zealand national anthem and start playing the damn Welsh one because we are heading down the same path as Wales.”
Can we not just accept other nations have improved? Can we just appreciate how good international rugby is ATM and how good the pumas & wallabies have been this international window?
Ps anyone else excited for All Blacks v Boks at Eden park? https://t.co/rOxVpggHiI
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) August 25, 2025
