Three games, two defeats, one try and a fair bit of frustration: Sonny Bill Williams hasn’t made the smoothest of starts to life in Japan’s Top League.
The All Blacks centre and New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion, one of rugby union’s most bankable stars, was expected to take Japan by storm when he began his lucrative stint this month.
It has not worked out that way so far, and Williams could not suppress his irritation after the Panasonic Wild Knights went down 32-22 to Toshiba Brave Lupus, despite his debut try, on Saturday.
“I just felt really disappointed and frustrated,” he said, according to Kyodo news agency.
“I just want to pay back my teammates and the Panasonic supporters. They have shown a lot of faith in me and a lot of love. And when we lose I feel the weight on my shoulders.”
For the World Cup-winner, who will join Australia’s National Rugby League when he finishes in Japan, it has been a difficult step down from Super 15 and Tests to the Top League, especially as regards refereeing.
“That was blatant,” he said on Saturday, when asked about an incident when he was tackled in mid-air. He added: “I was a bit frustrated by some of the calls. But that’s how the game is played here.
“You’ve got to bite the bullet and move on and concentrate on doing something else better. If you get into a mindset of frustration, it can have a snowball effect.”
At least he’s well paid. Reports have put Williams’s price tag at $US1.2 million for his short stay, or $US100,000 per game unless the Wild Knights reach the finals series. So far, he’s earned $US1,350 for each minute he’s played.
But apart from Williams’s teething problems, the jury is also out on how much his visit is helping the sport in Japan, which is desperately trying to raise interest and standards before hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Only 2,200 turned up for his debut in Sapporo, and 2,608 watched his first game in Tokyo. Saturday’s clash drew a crowd of 12,300 — about half the number who watched Japan’s under-20 Women’s World Cup football match with South Korea last month.
Despite Williams, attendances at Top League games, which are not televised, are down for the third year running. Such figures will make uncomfortable reading for the Japan Rugby Football Union.
Munehiko Harada, a sports marketing expert at Waseda University, questioned whether Williams represented value for money, and said a better way to raise standards would be sending young players to stronger leagues abroad.
“It’s very expensive to pay $100,000 for one game…. It’s a very expensive purchase to spend $1.2 million for 2,200 spectators, no media reports, and no brand image for Panasonic,” Harada told AFP.
“For Japanese rugby, it’s much better to spend money for young, potential players and send them overseas to gain experience.”
However, national team coach Eddie Jones said he was sure Williams would draw new fans to Japanese rugby, which is competing with home-grown baseball, football and sumo wrestling.
“Sonny Bill Williams will attract extra spectators to Top League games this year as he brings a unique set of skills and mana (passion) to the game,” Jones told AFP.
“The quality of rugby is always important in attracting spectators and Sonny is world class,” the former Australia coach added.
Japanese rugby certainly needs a boost. In seven Rugby World Cups, the Brave Blossoms have won just one game, against Zimbabwe in 1991. Despite this, Jones has been set the unenviable task of taking them into the top 10 by 2015.
Leo
Guest
NRL = World famous in NSW & QLD.
Leo
Guest
He'll be holidaying in Sydney next year as well before coming back to the global game that gave him his fame and fortune.
Warriors_Paradise32
Roar Rookie
How about investing in the All Blacks to play Australia, or South Africa in Japan.. If RUGBY is to grow globally stop sending one man armies and get a decent rugby team.. I need to see more RUGBY IN AMERICA.
Steve
Guest
The names are stupendously awful, I was just thinking that. 'Panasonic Wild Knights' sounds like some sort of battery operated massager, and it's _still_ better than 'Toshiba Brave Lupus'.
Sircoolalot
Guest
"If you stuck Anthony Fainga’a in an All Blacks jersey he would look like a star" Oh shut the hell up Sailosi, that one statement pretty much discredits everything you write from now on
ohtani's jacket
Guest
This article is from 1999 but it explains how company teams work -- http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/11/sports/11iht-teams.2.t.html Once a team is relegated to the second division the companies tend to pull the plug and the team becomes amateur.
Mike
Guest
I can understand that SBW finds it frustrating, but its likely to be good for him if he wants to play again for the All Blacks. Not as pleasant as walking into a dominant All Blacks team, but character-building anyway!
MAJB
Guest
Or he is on holidays and saving himself for the NRL.
kovana
Guest
Some errors in the article. "Despite Williams, attendances at Top League games, which are not televised, are down for the third year running. Such figures will make uncomfortable reading for the Japan Rugby Football Union" Some Top league matches are shown on Jsport TV. AND also the crowd attendances. 2009-2010 was actually a rise from the 2008-2009 season. Then the 2010 - 11 season saw a drop in crowds. BUT the 2011- 12 season again saw a rise in crowds. So, this thing about 3 years in a row of crowds falling is a bit erroneous.
macka
Guest
So true. *They haven't promoted his arrival. *They haven't used him in their company ad campaigns - to promote their brand and their marquee player at the same time. *They don't seem to be building an attacking strategy of players running off him as was done at the Chiefs & All Blacks. *They haven't built a media exposure to journalists - their a multi-billion dollar comapny...surely they can use their heft to push SBW more into the public eye. They really need to up their game, because rugby in itself is insignificant in Japan. It's like bringing in a superstar to promote AFL - it aint gonna happen by itself. But who knows, it is still early days. Perhaps SBW will explode in the public conscience later & help spread rugbys presence in Japan - especially if he somehow KO's Botha in the 1st round later this year.
atlas
Guest
Japan club updates here http://www.jrfu.org/ I sometimes watch French Top 14 to see how the 'old' men are doing, so many ex SA/NZ/Oz players who stopped at international level; and Japan too offers 'retro rugby' with plenty of great names . . . here's a few from last weekend's reports: Jerry Collins man-of-the-match in game against Brad Thorn's side. Other overseas players mentioned include: Patrice Olivier, Danie Rossouw, Tusi Pisi, George Smith, Steven Bates, Jaque Fourie, Stephen Brett. Some are definitely 'career-end' players, wonder how long COllins and Thorn can go on at this level?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
SBW is on vacation. He is resting his body for the NRL.
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
They used to be the Cherry Blossoms.
RebelRanger
Guest
How about the meme showing Quade in a lab coat labeling different organistations as 'toxic environments'. Eg- Channel 9 not showing live rugby? Tests show 'toxic environment'.
Nate Hornblower
Guest
The brave blossoms? ? ROFL
Jutsie
Guest
Lol I was just saying the same thing about morne after his was dropped from the boks, will he take to twitter to vent his frustrations. Someone needs to make one of those memes with QC and britney spears singing toxic ( I shouldnt admit I know a britney spears song)
p.Tah
Guest
I wonder if SBW thinks the cause of his form is because the environment is toxic and they are not adapting the game plan around his skill set?
mania
Guest
AdamS LMAOF. what an amazing ingenious insight
mania
Guest
no blinky because the backs can only perform with the platform the forwards set them. sbw isnt going to be hitting and securing rucks and mauls consistently so has no say in the quality of the ball he gets its that old adage "it starts up front"
AdamS
Roar Guru
Panasonic plays Toshiba and.... It's not shown on TV. Ironic much? Surely there are a plethora of TV channels in Japan, there must be room on one of them for the Rugby.