Sonny Bill Williams finds rugby union more mentally testing but he’s relishing what he says are greater physical demands in rugby league.
The Kiwi superstar has also revealed how his own halftime words helped him to turn a poor start to last month’s NRL grand final into a premiership-winning second half for the Roosters.
Williams has been both admired and reviled for his code-hopping ways, having won a Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks, a Super Rugby championship with the Chiefs, plus two NRL grand finals and is headed back to union again in time for the 2015 World Cup after helping in the Roosters’ title defence in 2014.
The dual international’s assessment of the two codes is influenced by his very different roles as a midfield back in union and as a forward in league, the sport he got started in.
“League is much more demanding physically. But, mentally, rugby is more testing,” Williams told The Guardian in the UK, where he’s involved in New Zealand’s Rugby League World Cup title defence.
He quickly became acquainted with the different demands when he played outside English fly-half Jonny Wilkinson at Toulon, the French rugby club he joined after walking out on NRL club Canterbury five years ago.
“I had to help the No.10. He’s calling the game and you have to look for space and defensive weaknesses,” the 28-year-old said.
“You’re always thinking. But in league I play in the forwards and love it.”
Williams opened up about his struggles in last month’s NRL decider at ANZ Stadium before his blazing midfield bursts inspired the Roosters’ come from behind win.
“I could not have had a worse start in the grand final,” he said.
“I dropped a couple of balls which led to tries and then I went in at half-time and my mental strength blocked everything out.
“I was really low on confidence but I said to the boys: ‘I’m gonna run hard and work as hard as I can. I expect you to do the same.’
“This came from me, a guy who’s had the worst half of his year, telling the boys that this is what I was going to do. So I went out in the second half and did exactly that and we won. I put pressure on myself to do it.”
Williams credited his third sport – professional boxing – for giving him the mental strength to push through such tough times.
russell johnson
Guest
Rob9
Roar Guru
awaiting moderation.... really???
Rob9
Roar Guru
No doubt a union forwards role is more multidimensional when compared to a league forward. But as we’ve established and as the stats suggest, that ‘tackling’ and ‘running’ done by league forwards is done a hell of a lot more often when compared to their union counterparts. 40 to 60 tackles and 15 to 25 hit-ups, no other significant jobs but that’s a heck of a lot more often than those jobs are done in union by any individual on the field. And really, we’re kidding ourselves if we think that mauling, lifting/catching in the lineout or a loosies role in scrummaging requires more physical output than completing a tackle (where the ball carrier has a decent wind-up) or a hit-up. The only thing that compares is a cleanout and more often than not, it really doesn’t. All of this before we consider the fact that union has a lot more stoppages and leagues defenders are constantly back peddling the 10 after each tackle. Seriously guys, I count myself as the biggest rugby fan on the planet (I’m sure there’s a lot of people on the roar who would be willing to take me on for the title) but that doesn’t give me a license to detach from reality and not call things how they are. As I said above, all of this is like a league fan pretending the game has a comparable international scene to rugby.
Glenn Innes
Guest
SBW has played at the elite level in both sports - I certainly have not so I am prepared to run with what he is saying - if club Rugby types wish to debate the issue then send him a text! I do agree however that I take these tackle counts produced in both sports with a grain of salt - in a world of gang tackling and wrestling what do you actually count as a tackle - first contact figures would be interesting to take a look at. But boy has sbw suggesting League is tougher pricked a raw nerve with the Union crowd quite amusing really.
Rob9
Roar Guru
It does swing both ways Reality. Not all tackles in union are one on one either. And I think you’d find a significant amount of tackles that a Dummy Half makes involve them making the first contact. A-take a look at their physical position on the field in defence and B- opposition forwards tend to pick the smaller guys out on the other side of the field to run at so they tend to see a bit of traffic coming down their channel.
Rob9
Roar Guru
TREX I’ve seen McCaw tackle players that have had a 30, 40...50 meter windup. But due to the game he plays, most tackles he makes are committed on players with around 5 meters (or less) of acceleration behind them. I’m a fan and keen observer of both games, a player of rugby for the last 25 years of my life and a coach of the open team at the school I teach at. And I guess most importantly in this regard, I’m someone who’s able to look at both games analytically and without bias and understand some of the science behind each to make judgements (it’s really not that hard to do). Who are you champion? And please do tell me where I’ve said that rugby is not physical?? Don’t put words into my mouth. I currently play rugby and there are few games I’ve played where walking the next day hasn’t come without its complications (especially now that I’ve just crossed over into the dirty 30’s). But despite my unrivalled love of and involvement in rugby, I’m not foolish enough to look past pretty basic stats and observations to suggest that union (1 to 8) is a more physical and taxing game than league (8 to 13). And please, that’s not saying rugby (1 to 8 and beyond) isn’t extraordinarily physical.
Reality
Guest
I think you are Rob, how many of Matt Ballin tackles were as a support tackler? i.e diving ontop of a tacklee doesn't constitute the same as a 15 m one on one. Conversely a tackle in union is much more likely to be a one on one (albeit from 5 m!).
TREX
Guest
God has also notice that this is your 500th post against rugby this week alone. I do played both codes but find rugby faster and more challenging like most of my fellow Kiwi's. God gave us Twickenham, Murrayfield, Eden Park, Cardiff Arms, Aviva Stadium and building a new one in Paris.
TREX
Guest
Its like asking Beau Ryan and Paul Gallen which pack is tough to be part of.... forwards or backs?.
TREX
Guest
Adrien, I coach a rugby team and I'll leave a front row position for you if you want to know what a rugby scrum is like. Just make sure you have private health insurance cover and that your prepared to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of your life then its all good.
Lord Bledisloe
Guest
I can tell you are all league fans because your stats and rugby chat is awful!
TREX
Guest
I've seen McCaw making tackles with players running from 15m windup and who are you Rob9 to decide what is physical and what its not? I've played both and some league games I could hardly walk after it and same for some rugby union games and then there are games in both codes where you hardly get a sweat. Each to their won but let SBW play loose forward in rugby and then ask him the same question and see what he says.
Lord Bledisloe
Guest
Yeah but rob9 but isnt that all you do in league, run and tackle? union has so much more facets of play so you cannot compare. i would love to see mcaws tackle count if he played league and then also love to see ballin do sweet bugger all on a rugby paddock.
Adrien
Guest
hahaha that's a good one
russell johnson
Guest
I did note the habitual ru intellectual approach to discussion " Mine's better than yours and you're stupid cos you like League" Did they all have deprived childhoods or is this just a product of the sport they watch? Again for the 500th time not attacking union just the attitudes, I have watched and played both SPORTS and several others I just prefer league above everything else! If you can't understand this I'm not going to engage in endless tit for tat contrast between two SPORTS that have only a common origin point and the shape of the ball in common. You will have noticed the term sport rather than "code" this is just to emphasise that what we share is as important as whether or not I miss the full-stop at the end of this post And next week League disappears from the planet and yawnionists re-invent it for something to talk about TGG "And then God made league and God saw that it was GOOD!"
Aaron
Guest
Wow superstar, it's no wonder that league fans are looked on as the slightly more challenged bunch. Your ignorance is unbelievable.
Rob9
Guest
As a sharks fan, I'm pretty happy they can't count 5 tackles in league either ;)
russell johnson
Guest
Comparing chalk and Cheddar = well done everyone you're talking k and c during OUR World Cup! The only reason SBW said this was to balance up what he said about the Physicality of league and didn't want to upset his future wage payers, A non-story based on nonsensical contrasts and totally biased judgements and appraisals. BUT what a fantastic game between Scotland and Tonga! Skill, ferocity, speed, effort, weather and drama = SUPERB!
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
Yes while in union they can't even count to five tackles. They just kick the ball away whenever they get it. Oh yes! Union is a vastly superior game to league strategically hahaha
Aaron
Guest
We are talking about scrummaging here my man, and anyone who knows the game will tell you it's about technique rather than weight. The boks have a great forward pack, but they would rank fourth at best if we are ranking the packs on their scrummaging abilities. I am now starting to wonder if you even play union, or are just here to troll...