NZRU makes offer to Sonny Bill

Mann i Hope this uso, will not take that nz rugby contract up. Coz that contract offer is waste of time. If i am Sonny, i’ll stay with Toulon. Which i believe is offering him more than 1.5 million a season. more than what he earn previously in the last 2 season with Toulon. 3 times more than the NZRU is offering.For me, Sonny should go and play international reps for SAMOA for sure. Home to where his dad come from. Even thought that Samoa Rugby dont have huge amount of money to pay players like other richest nation does. But at least his repping his Samoan side with pride, and still earning wayyyyyyyyy more money from Toulon, more than what the NZRU has offer. Futhermore, I dont know if people knows that the Samoa PM, which is also the Chairman of Samoa Rugby, has help Sonny fast tracking a Samoan Passport for him so he can earn way bigger money in Frances than those travel under AUS, NZ, RSA etc passports. This will be a great way for Sonny to give something back to the island and Samoa rugby. But if thats not the case, i suggest i rather see Sonny putting that All Blacks Jersey on with Maori Tattoos on instead of that Famous Samoan tattoo. As a crazy rugby fan, i never idolise or respect All those Samoan who put on the black jersey and other countries jersey on, cos i know deep down in my heart they are not true Samoan at heart. They are just a punch of samoan players who choose money over the blue jersey. Knowingly that theres another option out there, that they can still play for Samoa and still earn big money. Is to go play in Europe or Japan earning big money and have a great chance to put the blue and white jumper on. Soifua and wish Sonny all the best.

Well its looking on,for a guy like Henryto be bending over backwards to give Sony Bill a shot says alot,they rate him big time What a mouth watering thought to have Sony Bill playing outside of the best standoff in either code Dan Carter.Would make alot of sense to send him to the Crusaders as well

Hands up all those who've seen SBW play for Toulon at RC Toulonnaise? Mine's up. I've seen him play there a couple of times, and believe me, he hit the rucks. He understands the breakdown. Understands the defensive lines. And he still runs like the wind and tackles hard. Graham Henry is not a man with time to waste - he's got Ireland and Wales next month, then the TN, plus the end of the year tour, not to mention the RWC nagging at the back or front of his mind. He wouldn't be talking with SBW unless he and his scouts rate him as not only a rugby union player but a potential AB if Williams returns and gets his chops in shape playing on NZ grounds. I love watching Nonu play but he's the old style gunboat centre and maybe GH is thinking he'd like some speed and guile and some great lateral moves at IC. SBW does a great job when he's fed by Wilko's straight, hard passes, and a Carter/SBW combo has to be on GH's wish list. It's certainly on mine.

Apelu, there is only one person here showing their stupidity - and it isn't allblackfan or myself. Give yourself an uppercut.

SBW wants to be an Allblack, I think Henry made the right choices for "that game" Mcalister ahead of Mauger, Roks instead of Dougie and Keith Robinson instead of Jack. They were picked on form. The Abs just folded. This is the same team that flogged the french the last time they played. But we all know how much that means IMO the reconditioning program however seemed be the cause of a lot of injuries in that game. I've never seen so many players hobling off in an AB game before Toeava only now seems to be coming good. But back to SBW we'd all like to see him bring his dominance of league to union but has never really happened in the past with anyone. I'd like to see him play in the forwards but has he got the skills and technique to hit the rucks? Has he got the speed, defense and smarts of an international Centre. Or will he be another Liam Messam.

Instead of developing the skills of domestic players (some would call it "coaching") Teds answer to lack of player depth is to import SBW - him of dubious motivation. I hope it goes better than the Luke McAllister master stroke, or the Toeava will be the star of 2007 world cup, or saving Chris Jack Aaron Mauger & Dougie Howlett for the 2007 final, or the re-conditioning programme, just to name a few of his previous awesome ideas.

AT, the next time you want to attack me based on my comments, make sure you damn well read what I wrote first. Did u even read my fourth paragraph? I am not judging SBW based on Witt. I'm saying that Witt's case shows the NZRFU handles league defectors better than the ARU did. Since there have been very few cases of league people switching to NZ rugby, I had to use what example I could.

Have only seen him play in a couple of games and he seemed OK but yesterday he played really well against Cardiff. He would be a good acquisition for the AB's as it would help him round out his game more. He still has a bit to learn I suspect bet he is a big, strong athlete with good skills. I liked the suggestion that Bard Thorn mentor him and also think that he needs to earn his place in the Test team rather than have it guaranteed him. If anything the biggest problem would be swapping the South of France for Auckland, that's a far, far bigger ask!

The quality of the french comp has got nothing on super 14. Then there's stepping up to test rugby then again to the world cup. Plus Kahui back to form, Ice uninjured , Fruean impoving and Conrad is a hell of a lot of good competition for 13 and where do you play Ranger if he continues to improve.

ABF - don't show your stupidity in a public forum. You're judging SBW on what you saw in Michael Witt. Mate, you have to assess a person on his/her own merit. Avoid the stereotype; only the indolent and fools use it.

I've seen him play as well. Unlike Lote, SBW tends to run straight and his offload could prove to be punishing playing for a team that runs the ball like the ABs do. I saw footage of him in France last season and his instincts seemed a little off, especially at the breakdown, but hopefully a couple of games as a loose forward since then will have helped fix that! In any case, I think the ABs handle league defectors better than the ARU (they'd have to). Remember ex-Warrior Michael Witt? He switched to rugby in NZ and was talking about becoming an AB. Then he was sent to serve his ``apprenticeship'' in Dunedin club rugby. He barely lasted one season (?) before he fled to English SL.

I have watched a couple of games, SBW plays outside centre and when he gets the ball he makes it look easy, his offloads are brilliant. SBW should come back and play, NZ comp/AB/ and S15 - less emphasis on the forwards therefore see more of the ball. Eddie Jones made the comment that he should play as breakaway - rocks in his head. At outside centre, with a couple of quick guys running off him - look out.

Don't get to see much of the french comp, is he any good? I have doubts

Yep would love to see him playing rugby with the previso he is on a heavily weighted incentive-based contract. My issue with the Aus converts was always that they were signed by the national body without ever proving themselves in the provincial competition. Then the selectors were always open to the suggestion that Wendell and co. only got picked because they had national contracts. It turned out they were all very good but probably not as effective as we would have thought. Hopefully the Kiwis don't sell out their All Black jumper as I think we probably did with the Wallaby one. Why wouldn't Wendell go back to league and say it's good to be back with the 'real people' if he never had to work to earn what he was given and what others have dreamed & worked for their whole careers. Hopefully SBW turns out to be like Thorn who respects both codes.....maybe he should be employed as a mentor?

This would be great. Would love to see Sonny Bill playing rugby in the southern hemisphere.

what will Danny Weidler write about then, if Williams does come home to NZ??