By Spiro Zavos
June 8th 2009 @ 7:04am
Sonny Bill good. The Wallabies much better
Barbarians' Sonny Bill Williams of New Zealand, right, alludes being tackled by Wallabies' captain Stirling Mortlock, 2nd right, and Benn Robinson during their rugby match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, June 6, 2009. The Wallabies won the match 55-7. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sonny Bill Williams‘ first touch for the Barbarians (7) against the Wallabies (55) saw him step inside Stirling Mortlock. The big crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium erupted in an explosion of noise that carried the message: ‘He is going to make it in rugby union!’
He kept running through the gap and a try looked to inevitable. What a start, the now swelling roaring, seemed to state, a try with his first touch.
One more step on the inside when he should have straightened and he was hit by Luke Burgess covering, and then a swarm of other Wallabies. This time the roars were for the staunch defence of the Wallabies and against Williams as he struggled to break free for the last couple of metres to the tryline.
Then Williams did something that suggests to me, anyway, that he has the making, at age 23 and with a physique of a Jonah Lomu, to be a rugby superstar the way he was a league super star.
As the Wallabies piled in on him, grabbing legs, thigh, chest and arms, he somehow got the ball away, admittedly on the bounce, to his outside. One good further transfer and it would have been try time for the Barbarians.
And throughout the match, although he was feed several hospital passes, and balls so flat and high they could have been caught by defenders, Williams led the Barbarians who had very little ball to play with in off-loads.
He also made a sizzling break down the middle of the field that would have resulted in a try if Justin Marshall, the Barbarians halfback, had got to the ruck near the posts on time.
It was interesting to me to read the Sunday Telegraph’s James Hooper’s analysis of Sonny Bill Williams’ international debut in rugby union and the occasion itself, the first match played in Australia by arguably the most famous club in world rugby, the Barbarians.
The Telegraph stable has rugby league devotees running its sports section and they take every opportunity to denigrate a rugby union occasion. I remember very well, for instance, the opening match of the 2003 Rugby World Cup and seeing rugby league journalists everywhere in the news room. Why were they here, I wondered? Their bagging articles the next day provided the answer.
So probably the idea was to bag Sonny Bill Williams, the Wallabies and, if this fails, the rugby union game.
Hooper had to admit that Williams showed a lot of ability in his new code: ‘He might be on L-plates in his new game, but there was still enough to suggest Williams can be a force in the 15-man game …’
The sentence is stopped there because the next few words that finish it off give the game away, as it were. After the match Williams joked with some supporters and asked them if any of them had a spare rib as he might be needing some after the tackling he’d been subjected to.
The fierce tackling of the Wallabies, in fact, took away one of the traditional ‘complaints’ of rugby league writers about rugby union, that the tackling is weak. But here was a player who used to stride through rugby league defensive lines, as if they didn’t exist, being dumped and smashed by the supposedly cream puff rugby union defenders.
Now we come back to the last words of that sentence, ‘… if ever they can give him the ball.’
So it is a fault of rugby union that Williams didn’t get the ball very often. And hence the headline: It’s all a waste of Sonny’s talent.
In other words, he should never have left rugby league. And to ram home the message Sonny Bill Watch gave his ’statistics’ for the match: Tackles 1: Runs 4: Offloads 5: Metres gained 25.
Are these accurate statistics? I saw Williams, for instance, make many more tackles than the 1 recorded?
Moreover, if we had the statistics of Stirling Mortlock they would have shown that he made numerous tackles, many runs, not many off-loads and lots of territory gained. The sort of statistics that were far better than, say, the meagre statistics produced by the NSW centres in the State of Origin match.
The fact is that the Wallabies dominated the Barbarians for most of the match the way Queensland dominated NSW for most of the match in the State of Origin contest at Melbourne.
When the forwards are not winning the ball, in either code, the backs don’t get chances to run with it. It’s as simple as that.
On the evidence of this match, the Wallabies look to be a sharper side than last year’s team. The speed on the wings helped greatly, as did the overall speed of the side, especially in the loose forwards.
But how good were the Barbarians? Last week they beat England quite convincingly, although they let in three late tries. This England side over the weekend turned around and beat the Pumas, also quite comfortably.
But England were really an England third side, with players with the British and Irish Lions and others in Canada for a tournament. The Barbarians had also travelled from London to Sydney, an arduous journey. Then Rocky Elsom, their only forward currently playing Test rugby pulled out. Their defensive system was leaky and there didn’t seem to be much real pace on the wings.
But you can only play what is in front of you. The Wallabies conceded only one try. Their defence was tough and quick.
The lineout seemed to be good but the scrum folded every now and again. When they ran the ball (there was too much kicking for my liking) the side looked pacy and polished. But best of all there was a quickness about their play which has been lacking for some seasons.
So the verdict: Sonny Bill Williams was good. The Wallabies were much better than last year.
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(35)
Mungehead said | June 8th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
SBW is a young guy and he does have visible potential. The super-experienced Mortlock had his complete measure, but you couldn’t say SBW didn’t play well under the circumstances. However there’s a long way to go before we see whether SBW ends up starring, or just sinks without a trace.
He’s reiterated that he wants to play for the ABs in 2011 (very unlikely), so is this eligibility issue for the Wallabies a beat-up, or is he trying to put a bob each way? Anyone think a S14(15?) side will take him, and if so, which one?
couchnorm said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:13am | Report comment
I think SBW has huge potential. He was on the end of some terrible passing and still had some nice touches with the ball. I haven’t seen too many centres at full pace twist out of tackles and offload with one hand.
I was more disappointed with the Barbarians, I thought they looked like a bunch of individuals who are at the end of a long year and week in Sydney. Saying that the Wallabies were lucky that there kicking game was working well which transferred the pressure away from them and took away the ability of the Barbarians to attack
Good to see International rugby back at the SFS
WLN said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
SBW never had a chance outside Muppetsua and could only threaten with Macallister feeding. He would be seriously dangerous outside DC, Nonu and inside Mils or…perish the thought….Giteau, Barnes, and AAC….heck Cam Shep set free outside him would unleash hell…so just who will get his signature is now the big question. We can immediately cross out Samoa – his tatts are on the outside not the inside…..I dont think he’ll want to live in Wellington or Christchurch and the blues are a joke…he could live in Sydney with his fully sick boys surrounding him but I dont think the Tahs team culture would suit him…he should be eyeing up real estate in the GoldCoast…c’mon Digby give him a call!
Hemjay said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
The funniest thing of all of this is all the talk is about the boy from Auckland. Every single story seems to come back to him. Noone really is that interested in the articles unless they are about SBW.
The winner on the day is SBW the amount of publicity he has got is phenomenal.
I think all too many people forget that he has only been playing Rugga for 7 months. Give the guy another season or two and we should see a big improvement
bennalong said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
A good point Mungehead.
I think it takes a brave man to switch.
If everyone (with the money) thinks it’s a good idea,you’ll get a guernsey.(AND lots of cash!) But you’ll also get heaps of criticism and be watched like a hawk for any mistake that indicates you’re not worth the (considerable) money. How much of the criticism of Lote relates to ‘value’ and how much to the entirely reasonable distrust the public has for its fickle, interfering bureaucrats? How much resentment for his STAR status?
You also face the reality that it’s a much harder game to stand out as a star, so I think the league journo has a point.
Numbers 6, 9 & 10 are the only ones blessed with time on or with the ball.
Sonny Bill would be snapped up like a shot here if he put his hand up. And in NZ. ———–He’s advertising!
Lote will be back! He’ll reinvent himself playing how Robbie Deans inspires him to play.
He’s lost his confidence playing in that ill fated Waratahs backline picking up scraps!
bennalong said | June 8th 2009 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Back to the Wallabies!
Did they perform well? Yes!
For a first time outing they were fantastic ! The hand skills were great and on a number of occasions the backline looked like the Crusaders with that two-line attack creating the inside pass option.
I’ve been waiting ! Is this season too early ?
The kicking was great and you’re going to see it, like it or not. Barnes and Giteau have both developed tactical nouse and kicking for the corners has always been a smart option, ELV’S or not.
And the high balls were high and contestable — Relief!
Talking about the Money , switching and pressure, what about Robbie Deans ! ???
Sure, the switch wasn’t codes but to leave his beloved New Zealand and expose himself to criticism from both side of the Tasman took guts and a fantastic amount of self belief.
Christ I’m glad we got him !
Mungehead said | June 8th 2009 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Hemjay, you’re right, SBW’s notoriety has made him an instant celebrity. Bennalong, you make good sense, the clubs will be all over him.
So will he return to his roots in Auckland, will he aim to improve his skills and move to Christchurch, or will it be the Force that make him the offer he’s looking for??
Oh, Wallabies bennalong? Who were they again? Oh right, I remember now… yeah, I thought they played well…
Working Class Rugger said | June 8th 2009 @ 10:45am | Report comment
This season we should see much more of his influence in the Wallabies. When does his contract run out. Note to John. Start working on keeping him permanently.
Nick said | June 8th 2009 @ 11:03am | Report comment
It wasn’t a great Baa baa side but i’ll take the 50 point win first up. It’s much better than the last 4 or 5 years where we’ve struggled to put away 2nd string NH teams in dire games. Last year Ireland, the year before it was Hoiles saving us from Wales.
Amazing Deans could get them to play like that after just 1 week together.
John Ryan said | June 8th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Spiros do you ever read the paper you work for speaking about denigrating big events in Rugby League,you have got to be kidding.
The Telegraph is to my mind a rubbish paper,but fairs fair do you mean to tell me with a straight face the only reason Williams was here and the farce took place was because Rugby League had State of Origin and O’Neil and the RU wanted a spoiler and to try however desperately to get some publicity and maybe interest from League Fans,look at Fitzsimmons in the SMH on Sat.
I don’t mind some of your stuff but often you and the rugger buggers never cease to astound me.
SeemsStrange said | June 8th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
I thought they played well for their first outing. Set piece was by and large untroubled, defence was robust in the first instance (they also scrambled well which is a terrific sign) , they applied great pressure at defensive rucks and the ball movement while disjointed at times provided a good platform to build on from here. This was of course against an opposition thrown together and clearly lacking any cohesion.The most pleasing and frustrating aspect of the performance however was the kicking. The Wallabies were purposeful, skillfull and tactically aware when kicking for territory. However, they repeatidly took the easy option of kicking ahaead in attack within 30m of the opposition line. Sure, they scored from one of these grubbers from Giteau however I couldn’t help but think too many times it was a “last resort” option when clear linebreaks or numbers advantage weren’t obvious. I would have much prefered to see the ball kept in play, recycled and more pressure applied to the opposition. Oh and I don’t think SBW was all that flash, did some competent things but really still looked like a leaguey playing rugby (although he has played a number of games now)- much like most recent converts to play centre in their first forays into rugby – Tyrone Smith and Tahu did the same in thier frst few games – looking to offload in every contact situation and having a very narrow focus in defence.
James Mortimer said | June 8th 2009 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
Comparisons to Lomu?
SBW is a big athlete, but Jonah was a goliath.
I met him a few times, and the sheer size of the man was humbling.
I remember when he was a bit unfit in the late nineties, and came into a test match clocking 128kg.
128!!!!!
He then slimmed down, and was lean 120.
Personally, I was a bit dissapointed with Sonny. There were a couple of times when he was near the loose ball, and he just stood down to pick it up, almost as if he had subconsciously heard “Surrender, move, move”.
Whereas the hungry Wallabies threw their bodies on the deck to win the pill.
Alright considering it’s only 10 months since he’s been in the game, but he didn’t deliver the promised test match intensity.
The Wallabies did.
Justin said | June 8th 2009 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Lomu was also pretty dam quick…
matta said | June 8th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
196cm ,120 – 128kgs and 10.8 over 100m…lets face it Lomu was a once in a generation freak athlete
Sam Taulelei said | June 8th 2009 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
SBW’s only comparison to Lomu would be that they’re converted forwards playing out of position in the backs. I don’t know what people expected to see from SBW, it’s never easy converting from league to union and playing centre is a difficult proposition even for people who have played union all their lives – just ask Luke McAlister and Leon MacDonald. Centre is a defensively demanding position and is now played as a fourth or fifth loose forward position. His inclusion in the Baa Baas was purely a marketing strategy for the Sydney public who would otherwise not have been as interested in this match.
To put his performance in context, replace SBW in the Barbarians with Timana Tahu after Tahu’s first disrupted season in Super 14 and would there have been any difference?
SBW will need to decide upon his playing future in the SH if he’s seriously considering challenging for a spot in the All Blacks or even the Wallabies.
His height and ability to pass the ball in the tackle will make him a difficult proposition for opponents and will create space and opportunities for support players, this is a similar trait to the skills of English midfielder Will Greenwood. I don’t know if he has the speed for a centre to get on the outside of a sliding defence but he showed nice touches as well as obvious inexperience against the Baa Baas.
James don’t understand your comment about delivering promised test match intensity, I didn’t notice any of the Baa Baas playing with test match intensity and several of them are former test players and would have been expected to lead by example and deed.
This was an exhibition match dressed up and served as a contest of international quality and intensity. There’s no point in seeing it for anything else than what it was.
WA said | June 8th 2009 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Ugh, enough about this guy.
How good did O’Conner look in his brief stint?
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | June 8th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Turn it up on the Silly Little Willy Billy adulation, Spiro!
The pre-match and post match comment on Fox and Channel 7 was full of hyperbole about a bloke who’s barely played the game, who is famous for being injured for half his adult life, who is famous for walking out on his League contract (including pre-arranged community support appearances), who is famous for running around near the Mediterranien for a few months, who is famous for wanting to be an All Black and now a Wallaby, who is famous for … being famous. And, spare me – Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger and Garrick Morgan were big like Jonah, too, but fairly useless at rugby!
But the almost always mighty Spiro eulogises him for almost scoring a try, for almost scoring another try, for almost giving a try setting up pass, for getting a good ball way (“admittedly on the bounce”), and for making one sizzling run.
I saw a bloke mostly out of position, tackled to a full stop several times by conventional and competent technique, losing the ball several times when stopped, making one and a half noticeable runs – both of which were stopped – and making buggar all tackles! And they gave it a Barbarians jumper before it knew how to play the game – that’s high farce.
This is stock standard shrill media mania about how Manny Edmonds is the new saviour of rugby, then Fatso Turinui, nearly Braith Anasta, Lot$a Tuqiri, Medicare Mat (at centre, um – winger, um first five – um full back), the horribly immature solo runner / too late pass giver Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell (oops – not yet the best ever – oh, hang on, now he is again), non tackling poor passing Beale and, more recently, the also horribly immature and star struck O’Connor kid who has played little or no club rugby but spent 15 minutes on the field at the end to save the entire international season.
Way more importantly, and way more accurately, Australia started a match without its characteristic tentaviness, moved the ball swiftly across the paddock, caught the ball (Eureka! – they actually caught the ball) and showed much more fluid backs’ cohesion than previously. The opposition was a cobbled together rabble, so I ignore any assessment of the forwards, or the replacement riddled second half.
At last Deans has got Ashley Two Fathers to stick his boot into his pocket and use it only for good purpose for a whole one match; and that other over-rated teenager, Barnes from QLD, actually stopped trying to score himself every time he got the ball.
From the All Blacks’ perspective – I did not see McAlister (a second five, I say) do enough to unseat Donald from first five.
bozo said | June 8th 2009 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
Ok, Sonny has played a game of rugby in Australia and met the desires of the ARU promoters. Lets now move on and watch the rugby.
Cosmos Forever said | June 8th 2009 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Wow Mick – rant of the century!
All I was going to say was that SBW was never a superstar in League. He was a celebrity.
He played too few games to build any kind of reputation other than being a superbly naturally talented athlete that made big impacts when (and if) he played.
I reckon you’ve got to play at least 50% of the games in a season for a couple of years to be considered any more than ‘promising’.
And promising he is – i reckon he’ll mature into a nice Rugby player – a Superstar – nup, a celebrity – yep.
joeb said | June 8th 2009 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
As Gus Gould used to gush when Sonny Bill first debuted for the Bulldogs: “This kid has it all and he’s only 18!!!!” (Slight emphasis added.) Where have the past 5 years gone? Now at 23 he’s not another Jonah, nowhere near as bulky and hopefully never will be, but still has that great off-loading ability, size, speed — always thinking of how to advance the ball. In the centres would seem his natural position and there’s obviously a certain respect/friendship there between Morts and Sonny so could indeed SBW pull on a Green & Gold jersey down the track considering his grandmother is Australian?
But special mention of the terrific try-saving “Who was that?!” front-on ball and all tackle (initially) in the first few minutes brought off by Tahs’ and Wallabies’ number nine Luke Burgess (after Lachie overran his attempt to stop the former Bulldog)!!! That’s what it’s going to take for the Wallabies to be true contenders for whatever trophy they hope to add to the cabinet.
Worlds Biggest said | June 8th 2009 @ 6:50pm | Report comment
I read the Hooper article with bemusement, just more tit for tat between each code. I did have a laugh when Hooper’s inference was ” Sonny is a wasted talent in Union ” etc..etc…Like Spiro said, if your forwards are going backwards in either code your outside backs have little opportunity more so in Rugby. Just on the Baa Baa’s, this mob didn’t do the jersey any justice at all. If they come back here again take it a bit more seriously and do a few training sessions. They can hit the booze after the game but give the game more respect. The Wallabies certainly turned up and looked good. The Italians will be fiesty particularly up front. Now we the supporters and media turn our attention to another ex Leaguie making good in rugby in Gower.
The Answer said | June 8th 2009 @ 8:17pm | Report comment
Honestly Spiro, when will your axe against the Telegraph be sharp enough, how much longer will you grind it?
It strikes me that you have the opinion that the Telegraph has no place covering Union, that is the place of the Fairfax press. Furthermore, if are they going to cover union, they should only ever write with flowery prose about what a wonderful spectacle it was. SBW? There is no place for an opinion other than that he could be a superstar and the next Jonah Lomu.
Any opportunity to denigrate a code? Instead of sniping at the Telegraph from here, why not just wander over and have a word with fairfax colleague Peter Fitzsimmons if you have a principled stance against that sort of thing.
The Telegraph does have a number of rugby union writers, and sure there league writers may comment on Union. But so what? You have more than once commented on rugby league on this site.
If Union is getting more exposure in the Telegraph surely this is a good thing for the game. And don’t pretend it is always negative, after all the Super 14 only exists on Fox which owned by the same bloke you owns the telegraph so why would he want one hand slapping the other?
Sure the Telegraph are just copy and pasting ARU press releases and jumping on cue after some prematch canapes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a right to an opinion, even if it is different to the establishment’s.
By the way, what were the stats of the NSW Origin centres? You must know if you have quoted them.
ohtani's jacket, said | June 8th 2009 @ 8:21pm | Report comment
The Barbarians did train for the game.
Steve Kaless said | June 8th 2009 @ 8:24pm | Report comment
Spiro,
I love your enthusiasm for all things Dollar Bill. His principled move to France, his chiselled physique in the boxing video, his glorious, glorious, glorious debut for the most famous of famous Barbarians. What is more now he says he can play for Wallabies! Will the excitement ever cease.
Peter K said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
Mick Gold Coast QLD – FANTASTIC, I could not help laughing and laughing. What an accurate write up but written in a quirky humerous way.
Thank you, made my day.
Joe FC said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
Does Sonny Bill have any connections with Syd Uni?
westy said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:43pm | Report comment
The Answer the recent quality of SMH has come down market and is more tabloid in nature. it is Fairfax who sacks journalists in their cost cutting measures not News ltd.
To be balanced News Ltd run an una[polegetic Taboid the Tele . They also run a broadsheet that is surprisingly increasing in quality ( or is it that the SMH has declined so much). Nowdays it is a fight between the two tabloids.
The honest one and the pretend one.
Remember the honest one broke the story on Marcus Einfeld and the race based rapes in the Western suburbs whilst the other did nothing.
westy said | June 8th 2009 @ 9:45pm | Report comment
SBW could play for NZ/ France (after another year) / Samoa and now Australia. He is spinning us all he can.
westy said | June 8th 2009 @ 10:06pm | Report comment
Rugby League and rugby union are different games. Great games in their own right.
It becomes offensive really to compare the Wallabies v Barbarians game with either the defensive committment of either the 1st state of Origin or the super 14 semi final b/w Crusaders and Bulls.
It basically seems to be evidence of some type of lack of confidence in our product. The Barbarians game was at best a romp of a exhibition game with ,poor defensive committment . That is OK. But do not raise it to what it was not. it will come back to bite us.
joeb said | June 8th 2009 @ 10:38pm | Report comment
“SBW could play for NZ/ France (after another year) / Samoa and now Australia. He is spinning us all he can.”
Good point Westy — erm, you’re not Steve Folkes are yer Westy?
I’m merely recalling Folksie’s barely contained laughter when Sonny departed citing million dollar offers from both sides of the English Channel at the time, and no doubt he secured a better deal compared to Belmore. Likewise best of luck to him. He’s got the goods.
Steve Kaless said | June 8th 2009 @ 11:42pm | Report comment
Westy,
You make some very shrewd judgements. I have been chuckling away at the way both sides of the rugby divide approach the SBW debate.
The animated league side will tell you he is a traitor and deserves his comeuppeance, the union side chuckles at their rage (see Fitzsimmons) but then swoon all over him like smittened school boys. The Fitz files said he could be the next Dally Messenger, Spiro compares him to Jonah Lomu. While one side step and an offload and he is declared a resounding success. Here the analysts fall into the trap of most parents and some talent scouts, one flash of brillance and they think their beloved has all the makings of star.
Any comparison to a great who did it at the highest level continually compared with a bit of marketing exercise is delusional.
I’d argue most people who actually watched the game would have thought SBW was okay.
His performance clearly was that exceptional because rather than letting any feats on the field keep him in the papers he had to opt for the pathetic “I can play for the Wallabies too” line.
And didn’t they just lap it up…bring on the bearded lady.
Mike said | June 9th 2009 @ 8:40pm | Report comment
Playing up SBW was shrewd media spin by the ARU. In Sydney, League is the dominant code, so the ARU must take every opportunity to get League fans interested in the real game.
SBW seemed to take things fairly realistically – he knows he has a long way to go. He did well, all things considered. This is really his first exposure to high-pressure football – he has never played Origin or Test, and he has only played part of a season with a not-terribly-good Rugby provincial side.
Is he interested in becoming a Wallaby? I doubt it, but he is sensible to play that up. It can only increase whatever offer he might get from NZRU.
It will be interesting to see how Craig Gower performs this weekend – he has played Origin, he has captained a side to an NRL Premiership and he has two full seasons with Bayonne, which is better than Toulon. He knows high-pressure football and should do considerably better than SBW.
CronullaKiwi said | June 11th 2009 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/best-of-rugby-analysis/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502181&objectid=10577069
Ben C said | June 11th 2009 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Steve
Better than okay in attack, less than okay in defence (positioning not actual tackling). Overall a pass mark but hard to tell his true capabilities playing in a scratch side with no cohesion. Like Lote, he has all the physical attributes but whether he can learn the positioning/angles and other nuances which are very different in Union to League. Lote couldn’t which is why he is on the wing although he has the physical capability to be a damaging 13 or 15.
I would be happy for an Austrlain province to trial him on a S14 contract but I wouldn’t be measuring him up for a gold/black/blue jersey just yet.
Leonidas said | June 15th 2009 @ 9:36am | Report comment
The only comparison between SBW & Lomu is their size but apart from that SBW and Lomu are totally different players.
SBW on the defensive end in league was Phenomenial and he’ll only get better in union as for Lomu he couldn’t tackle
SBW can offload in tackles Lomu couldn’t ok, maybe one offload here and there, but then again he didn’t need to, the fact Jonah always had an advantage against his opposite number because of his size.
I have nothing against Jonah he was a great player for the All Blacks but I think SBW is something else
As for the Baa-Baas game SBW played well, expectations of him was high but he’s only played a dozon or so games in his new code but like mortlock said he held his own taking everything into consideration even Deans had only positve comments to say about him
As for what country he’ll play for there’s only two options really The All Blacks or Samoa as for the Wallabies I don’t think so
If he wanted to play for Australia he would of done it already in league the fact is SBW wanted to play state of origin in league but had to chose to play origin or for the kiwis and we all know what his choice was The Kiwis
As for playing for Samoa like he said anything is possible but the fact is SBW wants to be successful in union he wants to be the best centre in the world one day he’ll want to play for one of the most successful rugby team in the world The All Blacks but if he does play for the Manu Samoa he’ll be welcomed with open arms and Samoan supporters all over the world would be buzzing with excitment. I know i will