Comments on: Sonny Bill Williams boxing [Video]

By: znotty

znotty — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:30:18 +0000

lachlan
gee mate thanks for making my point for me again, i mean i only did it once for myself already

By: lachlan

lachlan — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:50:15 +0000

znotty* i doubt there are many, if any centres at all in world rugby that would b under 85kgs let alone 75kgs!
As for SBW boxing its obviously just a publicity stunt by mundine to promote his fight! Genius really, considering there are people that would love to see SBW get bashed around and those who just want to see him. Whether he fights or not the training will do him good and ultimately make mundine or the fight promoters more money.

By: 6one9

6one9 — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:46:47 +0000

Sonny-Bill has to pay Mundine back some how, and the hype around SBWs 1st ever boxing fight should pull in a bit of money, I don’t think SBW is seriously considering a switch, was more than likely part of the deal with Mundine to pay out the Bulldogs. With Mundines ridiculous 60cents per dollar taking in pay perview moneys has seen his popularity dwindle considerably.

By: Ian Noble

Ian Noble — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:57:53 +0000

Steve and KO

Saint-Andre has taken over as head coach at Toulon and is revamping the entire squad. The new players include a mix of seasoned English, Argentine and French players mainly from the GP. Collins has joined the Ospreys on a two year deal and as his ex-girlfriend and daughter live not far away in N Devon there may some rationale behind his move.

Saint -Andre with his track record at Sale will knock a few heads together and certainly Wilko would not have gone there if there was some unrest. As for the Baa-baas when you see their squad you wonder whether SBW will get game time.

Iain Balshaw (Gloucester Rugby and England)
Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & New Zealand)
Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster and Ireland)*
Peter Grant (Stormers and South Africa)
Doug Howlett (Munster & New Zealand)*
Josh Lewsey (London Wasps and England)*
Seilala Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa)
Justin Marshall (Saracens and New Zealand)
Luke McAllister (Sale Sharks and New Zealand)*
Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers & Ireland)
Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon)*
Dimitri Yachvilli (Biarritz Olympique & France)*
Serge Betsen (London Wasps & France)*
B J Botha (Ulster & South Africa)*
Schalk Brits (Stormers and South Africa)
Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France)
Jerry Collins (Toulon & New Zealand)
Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers & England)
Rocky Elsom (Leinster & Australia)
Justin Harrison (Bath Rugby & Australia)
Chris Jack (Saracens & New Zealand)
Greg Somerville (Gloucester Rugby & New Zealand)*
Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets & Wales)*
Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues)*

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:53:54 +0000

The forwards coach and former France prop, Jean Jacques-Crenca, was sacked during the season, and both John Connolly and Jake White were brought in to assess the situation. Apparently Jerry Collins left due to differences with the current forwards coach, so all is definitely not well in the Toulon camp.

By: Steve Kaless

Steve Kaless — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:52:55 +0000

Knives Out,

Thank you, I stand corrected. Simply figured one new coach meant the old one out. Silly me.

By: mcxd

mcxd — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:08:41 +0000

steve, good point about being committed to union then playing in france instead of NZ. thats where a kiwi would want to play if committed to union.

excuse my ignorance but who is he fighting and in what weight division ? im no johnny lewis but as sure as hell cant see him lasting the rounds against a professional.

By: Andystath

Andystath — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:25:34 +0000

Knoder Nasser and Mundine are having a massive impact on poor old Sonny,he apparently will only be eating halal meat when touring Australia and NZ.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:10:08 +0000

Tana Umaga has not been given the heave ho, Mr. Kaless. He will be coaching alongside Saint-Andre and combining his coaching duties with playing.

By: Hoy

Hoy — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:43:55 +0000

I would say Sonny Bill has been a little to closely influenced by his good mate and possible brain washer, “The Man” Mundine.

I hate that some athletes think they are fantastic at all sports, or want to give other sports a go. Just stick to what you are good at, and be happy. I wish I was a professional footballer, and I damn sure wouldn’t be buggering up my chances with a possible shit foray into boxing.

By: Steve Kaless

Steve Kaless — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:26:52 +0000

Spiro,

The love affair that rugby union had with SBW after he became their prize scalp looks destined for a fall. As is with most league to union converts there is the standard mantra of a “commitment to rugby union” which is all meant to cover up the hunger for a bigger pay cheque.

Does SBW have a commitment to union? Unlikely. If he did he probably would have gone to NZ rather than France in the first place. His manager also stated at the time that Sonny wanted to transcend sport, so rugby was probably seen as just a stepping stop. To what exactly? For mine he looks to becoming something of a circus act.

I note with interest that Jonny Wilkinson has just been signed on a big deal with Toulon, none of the reports I have read make mention of Williams playing there or Wilkinson expressing his excitement of playing with him, maybe Danny Wielder hasn’t got hold of him yet. Tana Umaga has also been given the heave ho.

I wonder what the new coach thinks of all this and whether Toulon have a similar commitment to Sonny.

The final question must be how Jon O’Neil who claimed Williams was one of the best players in the world prior to his unveiling, feels about his big ticket item leaping about the ring prior to their own money making exercise.

By: Tigerface

Tigerface — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:55:10 +0000

Everybody looks good shadow boxing. My Mum can throw a tasty looking combination at air. When you have someone in front of you it’s a completely different reality.

Most people carry low hands shadow boxing, again, because you can and it looks sexy. He’ll be OK, he’s a fit, strong boy and he’ll fight people of similar limited skill level.

Against a real boxer with a strategic mind he would last under a minute. He’s a rugby player and generally speaking they they make appalling boxers as anyone who went to university and watched rugby boys try boxing can confirm. It’s a rude awakening. The heart is willing but the lumbering power-driven body isn’t.

By: znotty

znotty — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:47:34 +0000

But where would he find 75 kilo centres willing to fight him.

By: Kento

Kento — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:44:43 +0000

Great video. But was on earth is going on here? Is Sonny genuine about his switch to union from league? Why boxing? (money?)

If he’s here to box, then all fine. But I’m not sure about him playing for the Bahbahs as well on the same trip.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:16:24 +0000

I don’t think that Williams needs to be the ‘real deal’. In fact, I can only offer a handful of ‘real deal’ boxers from the past decade. One doesn’t have to be a great to have a successful career. Perhaps he is merely fulfilling an ambition, and if that’s the case then good luck to him. If Williams were going to take boxing seriously then I can’t imagine that Umaga or Saint-Andre would be impressed, not to mention the outspoken Toulon owner. That there has been no public response from any of the aforementioned parties suggests that there isn’t much to talk about. Frankly, I think it’s a shame that more athletes don’t cross-train.