Lets play a name-association game. Sonny Bill Williams: amazing athlete. Sonny Bill Williams: good rugby player. Sonny Bill Williams. Should not be an All Black.
Sonny Bill Williams is only an All Black because he is Sonny Bill Williams. Based on the way he has played coming into this World Cup, he should not have made the squad.
Williams is a phenomenal athlete and at his core, a quality rugby player. But this is New Zealand rugby we are talking about and their depth at the moment is phenomenal. That is why I am so against Sonny’s selection.
He has not played well, others have. That is the bottom line.
In terms of other selections, Lima Sopoaga should have been chosen over Colin Slade, and Charles Piutau should also be in the team.
Slade is obviously far more experienced in the black jersey and is a utility back, however Sopoaga is a better first-five and has shown time and again that he can handle pressure.
In the case of Sopoaga, pressure makes diamonds. In the case of Slade however, pressure tends to create rubble. Sopoaga should have been chosen.
As I have stated before, Brad Weber should have been given the nod over Tawera Kerr-Barlow. I understand that Weber was not really even in the discussion for the World Cup, but based on form and class he is at least the third-best halfback in New Zealand.
Having said that, the team is still an amazing one. The decision to leave Cory Jane and Israel Dagg out was the right one, I love the inclusion of Waisake Naholo, and the inclusion of Nehe Milner-Skudder is a stroke of genius.
Although the best 31 players have not been chosen, the best 15 have.
Mad Mick
Guest
Back in the 60s McRae was a really strong 12 for NZ for a number of seasons and suited the style of play really well at the time. Right now Nonu is the number 1 in the game. Moala may be the future for NZ in that role if he keeps learning and improving.
Jason
Roar Rookie
You make a really good point. I think both Sopoaga and Piutau will both play in the tournament due to injuries as well. With all this said, I am so excited for this World Cup to start.
Flocker
Guest
Bert Cooke was considered our best inside centre for most of the last century, and was included in All Time AB XV selections by the great and the good as recently as the late 1990s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbDMChNzvHw
Shineblocker
Guest
The guy can play, period. Big injuries will come out of the Argentina game, and the All Blacks will call on Sopoaga and Piutau to play the rest of the tournament ...
taylorman
Roar Guru
Never actually thought I'd say this but Nonu for me is now the best ever second five NZ has produced, and he is very close to the best 12 or 13 to represent the AB midfield, Bunce, Smith, Umaga and Joe Stanley probably head him still there, but jury's even out there. 12 is probably the weakest position historically for the ABs, none standing out as a potential World best historically, none ever making those World XV lists that get endlessly offered up in rugby forums the world over. Players in every other position, from prop to fullback get a mention. 12, inside centre, or second five rarely amongst them. The only obvious that spring to mind Walter Little, Bill Osborne, Warwick Taylor and Aaron Mauger in the last forty years. Useful players, but not an outstanding list given the AB record over that period. Nonu is probably the first legitimate contender for that position.
Tah Mate
Guest
Nonu over SBW every time.
Ra
Guest
Ahh flocker, he IS an All Black. A panel of All Black selectors said he is ! I hope that wasn't too easy for you to understand bro !!
Ra
Guest
how many keyboard strokes have you tackled Oliver??? You keep tackling them because you're no match for SBW. If you knew anything about rugby and the freaks of the game then you wouldn't have to question SBW's inclusion, you'd just know...
atlas
Guest
David, that 14 man wallaby team. It wasn't for the whole match. On average a ten minute yellow card would involve under five minutes actual playing time, an 80 minute game less than 35 in total
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes I've always liked Slade, he could be the unsung hero in this tournament.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I dont hate him at all. I thought he might make a difference but he's simply never played an important role in a big test. 2012 you say? Well it's 2015 and he's had a full SXV and still hasn't pushed his case. ABs expect high standards for his position and he's just not consistently meeting them well enough to start. He won't start in the knockouts unless there's injury.
Brady-Arland
Guest
What I don't get about the hole SBW thing is if you think SBW is a great Rugby player but just not good enough for the All Blacks then you must be a Hater, Why? there are lots of player around the world that I think are great players but wouldn't be good enough for the All Blacks so does that make me a hater?
soapit
Guest
given the 10 or so quality all black seasons he's got in the bank i think they havent bothered with a contract for nonu,
soapit
Guest
who plays 13? disagree about playing them together. they are both good enough that you dont need another strong centre. you need a steadier/linking/supporting centre alongside them. i dont think they would complement each other particularly as one would have to play at 13 outside the other which would negate the influence of whoever got pushed out.
Leon
Guest
I can't believe the SBW lovers are still claiming that he is one of the best union players. He warmed the bench at the last WC and should consider himself extremely lucky to be in the squad this time around. How some people believe that he has had or will have a great on field influence in union is beyond me. I wish him all the best at the WC but he hasn't done anything to push his way close to the 1st 15.
Dan54
Guest
Sheeks, what you say is so true, isn't is strange that people who probably watch a few games on TV seem to know so much more. Hell nI no SBW fan, but am a fan of selecting a team by seeing them play games(and not just limited tv watching) and also how they will fit into team patterns , also how they train etc.
Ken
Guest
Your wrong he normally runs with a hop aims for the inside shoulder and looks for a off load most times , the earlier version of SBW would hit the line hard and offload thru the tackle now he offloads at contact ,maybe that's how he's been told to play I don't know but with his size and speed I can't recall him running over any players recently and ,bending the line to create second phase play .hope that changes during the World Cup
sheek
Roar Guru
And this folks, is why Steve Hansen is head coach for the All Blacks. He has a much better idea of who should, or shouldn't, be in the national team, than we Roarers. Hard to believe but true.....
canadiankiwi
Guest
SBW runs at the line with the purpose of attacking a weak shoulder, drawing in defenders, staying on his feet, and off-loading to a support runner through the gap he created. SBW does not run full speed at the line at full speed with the malicious intent of hammering the 10 and putting him on his backside, going to ground, and recycling quick go-forward ball. Nonu, Moala, Ranger can play this way. Both styles can be very effective but also require different styles of play from their 13 partner to be most effective.
Not Bothered
Guest
Is that the same contract Nonu has every year? Or are you imagining a world where Nonu usually has good club seasons?