Will Sonny Bill Williams Be Good Enough To Make The AB's

Question

I am a huge AB's and Bulldogs fan. I feel for the Bulldogs and their fans at the moment but I do understand SBW's frustrations with the NRL. Tana said on the news last night that he could see SBW in the centres for the AB's. I dont...If anything I believe he has the talent strength and ability to be Ritchies understudy...what do you think?

Answer 1

I doubt we will EVER see Sonny Bill put on an AB jersey unless the NZRFU change the law to allow overseas players to play internations. I cannot see him signing up with a S14 franchise when he gets paid 10 times that in France.

Answer 2

As much as I admire SBW as a superstar of NRL and a role model for rugby league, I don't believe he's earned the right to play for the All Blacks.  There are many up and coming current NZ rugby players who will perform better than SBW such as Messam & Latimer as no. 6 or 7, or Toeava or Stanley at 13.  It's about having a rugby brain and instinct built from playing the hard out rugby, rather than muscle and a few good passes.

Answer 3

Surprised with Tana supporting this clown. Hope he never sees the  allblacks.

Is this what the  allblacks stand for? And why does he want to be an allblack? For the team or for himself.

Should have done the right thing and tried to exit his contract appropriately - then I might have had more respect for him.

Answer 4

i dont think there will ever be a place for SBW in the abs.

Firstly the NZRFU would have to change the laws to allow allblacks to be selected from outside NZ, or otherwise he would have to come back and play for a NZ franchise, he has shown it is about the cash so i cant see him doing that.

He does not have the work load to take on the fast postion of an international flanker, and he will not be an international centre.

I think good luck to him but rugby is alot different from leaque lets see how he goes before we start even condidering him for a super 14 Position.  

Answer 5

There's a bit of time to wait.  He is an undoubted talent but he is yet to play a first class game.  What position will they play him?  

Eddie (the Deadhead) Jones suggested that he should play center. I personally think he should try flanker.  It will be harder for him to learn but in the long run better for his game.  He is a player of high involvement and mixing it in the forwards would suit him better.

The other thing is how is the legal problems going to affect his career.  That's a huge unknown.

Answer 6

Whatever position suits SBW will definitiely be an asset for the team that he represents. Although I havent watched him playing league the ockers have had a field day describing him as a great player at the position he excelled in representing the dogs.

Money and disatisfaction with the treatment he received from the management at the bulldogs forced him to change codes and an opportunity to expand his skills.

I say good luck SBW you;re doing just fine

Answer 7

League players like Wendell Sailor and co ended up being a complete flop in the union game.They simply could not adapt to the complex syle compared to that of league. Take the Paul brothers for instance in England, brilliant at league but could not perform at union at either club or international level. SBWs talent and potential at union remains unknown. Why does New Zealand need a league convert in the backs when we already can breed our own homegrown talent or overseas options?

Answer 8

He'd make a good loose forward. Either No.8 or blindside flanker. It takes league players a few years to become good rugby players. Some of them are more talented than others and I'm more than just a bit interested in seeing how he goes with Tana's team...talented enough to be a good rugby player...I think so...good enough to become an allblack? I don't think we'll see him in an allblacks jersey before the next world cup...but who knows for sure??

Answer 9

The way he handled his "transfer" to France suggests that the top two inches need a bit of work - doubt he could come close to keeping up with Richie in a cognitive sense.

Let's see what he does in France, and see if he can transition to a S14 fran, because he aint gonna be playing NRL ever again!

Answer 10

There is no way i would wana see SBW in an AB Jersey  coz he just walked out on his bulldogs team mates and the kiwi team before the world cup in a couple months time. What he did was everything against the spirit of team sports like rugby as a kid you learn to stick with your team mates good nd bad and never walk out on them especially half way through rugby season

i mean he could have waited to the end of the NRL season but i guess money meant more than loyalty for him

Any true rugby lover would tell you we play coz we love it and gettin paid is a bonus!

Answer 11

The reality is that New Zealand does not need more forwards. We need more backs. Who will fill the gap made by Carter next season while he is on sabbatical?

Anyway, if SBW can get some kind of kicking game at Toulon he is a viable option for the All Blacks. But if I were to be totally honest, there are a lot of hurdles he must overcome first.

Answer 12

Good call from other caller, vision and intelligence are what Ritchie adds to the physical attributes and we have seen very little of those from S.B.W.  His strength is in ball carrying and off - loading, not ball fetching and turning over, and therefore i think he has great potential as a centre (outside or inside) but just like Tana and Ma'a before him may need to do an apprenticeship on the wing.

      On the defensive side he is such a good athlete that learning to tackle properly shouldn't be any real problem, specially as he is not going to be playing a hard grade to begin with.

Answer 13

It takes alot more than physical presence to be a Ritchie McCaw.

Ritchie is complete because he is intelligent and has great vision.

I can't see SBW ever being a McCaw.  

Answer 14

Dont think he would suit 7 it would take him longer to adjust to 7 than any other position esp with all the rules at the breakdown it would just frustrate SBW.

His talent would be  better used in the backs with his ball running skills. 2nd 5 or Centre would be good for him, he's big, strong, fast, can off load and runs good lines. Will just have to work on his passing, his defensive lines and maybe kicking. that would be a bonus if he can kick.

Look forward to seeing how he goes this year!

Answer 15

Why on earth would we be interested in SBW or any other player, whose only interest is money. He's already walked out on 2 contracts, why should we give him another chance. Definitely NO. Surely we only want players who want to wear the black jersey on their heart.

Answer 16

He wouldo well  at  centre no way would you put him in the forwards, bone smashing centre good off loader you would get good turn over ball from his tackles having said that he has to mature hes still young the ball in his court really not sure where his head is at would go well in crusaders enviroment .

Answer 17

I doubt it. Fact is he can,t be trusted. To do what he did to the bulldogs after having the contract he has, he does not deserve to be taken seriously. To play for the ABs it is all about heart. He is only concerned about money.

Answer 18

hel yes. u see wat he can do when he gets the ball and some space. he creates space, eyes and run the gaps, sets up others with his god given handling skills and kills attackers with his tackles. he wont be the best flanker but a mean centre. a combination of jerry collins and joe rokocoko with collins big hits and run ups, and joes creativity and setting up others. hes lyk the brown version of dan carter.

Answer 19

Well firstly, if he wanted to be an All Black he'd have to play domestically. I cant see the NZRU changing their offshore players rule just because Sonny Bill has changed codes. Super 14 players dont make anywhere near as much money as Sonny Bill thinks he's worth.

Secondly, given that the All Blacks have the mantra of being 'chokers' at crucial times. i.e RWC 1/4 & semi final stages, would you really want someone who has demonstrated in the last 2 weeks that when the going gets tough it's OK to walk out on your team mates, your club, your contract and if he were to make the AB's your country.

I think not. Sorry Sonny Bill, I admired your passion for the game of league but the way you dealt with leaving only soured your reputation, I'm pretty sure all those kids you talk about inspiring have learnt that money is the most important thing there is.

Answer 20

despite his awesome form for the bulldogs,he seemed pretty green on international stage for the Kiwis so im not sure how much different it will be in Union.

Answer 21

I think he would do well as the fullback. But yeah I think sonny in the centres would work.