Umaga weighs up whether to start Williams

Sonny Bill Williams got 20 minutes off the bench for Counties Manukau on his return to rugby.

Whether his next step is a starting spot against national provincial championship high-flyers Tasman on Sunday is something coach Tana Umaga is weighing up.

Umaga says it’s hard to see how either of the incumbent midfield combination of Bundee Aki or Rey Lee-Lo deserves to be dropped after outstanding recent performances.

However, with a short turnaround, it’s also a case of seeing how everyone pulls up from the 41-18 thumping of Auckland on Wednesday night.

Umaga says the instruction to Williams when he went on for Aki at inside centre was simply to carry the ball as far as he could.

“He takes a lot of stopping and he brings in a lot of players and he created opportunities a bit further out for other players,” Umaga said.

“He can either make them happen directly, or if it’s not on, he can go to ground and set a ruck and we can get quick ball from it. He’s always going to get us quick ball.”

Umaga said that was one of the improvements in Williams’ game – understanding he didn’t have to pop the ball up all the time but that he could recycle when an offload wasn’t on.

One of the standout players against Auckland was halfback Augustine Pulu, who scored one try and created another with an incisive run and excellent pass.

Pulu has come into All Blacks reckoning after injury to Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Umaga pressed his charge’s claims, praising his passing, kicking and option-taking.

“Hopefully, they (the selectors) saw that,” Umaga said.

“I know they’re looking at him and for me I’d take him.”

The Steelers remain in play-off contention heading into the last round weekend, but need fourth-placed Auckland to miss out on a bonus-point win over second-tier Northland on Saturday.