Despite blunders which almost cost New Zealand the Wellington Sevens title, Sonny Bill Williams is confident he can improve quickly in his latest sporting challenge.
The All Blacks Sevens kept faith with Williams on Monday, selecting him for this weekend’s world series tournament in Sydney.
His bow was eagerly awaited as the All Blacks’ World Cup winner, who is also a two-time NRL premiership winner and New Zealand’s champion heavyweight boxer, now targets a place in the inaugural Olympics sevens.
Yet the multi-talented Williams produced errors along with the odd moment of offloading magic in a mixed display over the weekend before New Zealand managed to eke out a 24-21 win over South Africa in the final.
The 30-year-old happily embraced his rookie tag and admits he had lots of development to come in this format.
“I know that I will get better,” he said.
Williams, who had scored a try with his first touch on Saturday, made two glaring mistakes in Sunday’s final, dropping the ball from the kickoff and delivering an errant offload to help South Africa forge into a 21-7 lead.
Yet New Zealand made a remarkable fight back, with Joe Webber clinching the winning try after the final siren.
“I’m really pleased with how I went this weekend to tell you the truth,” Williams said.
“The pleasing thing is being able to be in an environment where, even though I’m a rookie, everyone wants to help you out.
“I’ve come into this weekend taking it as a massive learning experience and I’m just grateful to be playing in such a talented side.”
He has got the nod for Sydney to get some more Sevens miles under his belt after veteran coach Gordon Tietjens backed him to make the adjustments to his game.
“He’s a perfectionist and he’ll get it right,” Tietjens said.
Fellow All Black Liam Messam has still not recovered from a calf injury to make the 14-man squad while experienced campaigners Scott Curry, Declan O’Donnell, DJ Forbes and Sherwin Stowers remain sidelined.
Dylan Collier and Lewis Ormond have been added to the 12-strong team that competed in Wellington.
New Zealand face Australia, Canada and Portugal in pool A at Sydney from February 6-7.
New Zealand’s win in Wellington took them to third in the world series standings, seven points behind leaders South Africa and five behind second-placed Fiji.
Squad: Kurt Baker (Taranaki), Dylan Collier (Waikato), Sam Dickson (Canterbury), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Gillies Kaka (Hawke’s Bay), Ben Lam (Auckland), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Lewis Ormond (Taranaki), Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Regan Ware (Waikato), Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau), Joe Webber (Waikato).
CUW
Guest
yeah and i think its a poor plan on the part of nz management. those guys will surely lose their 7s fitness when they come back from super rugger. by that time hopefully DJ FORBES Sherwin Stowers Declan ODonnel and Beudien Wakka will be fit and ready. also the surrent guys wiill stay fit too. Sam Dickson Dylan Collier Lewis Ormond Gillies Kaka Regan Ware Tim Mickkleson + Kurt baker and Joe Webber > all regular 7s boys. SBW had a tough battle on his hands to get into the final 12 (bar injuries to the regulars)
atlas
Guest
The two Ioane brothers, Ben Lam (all Blues) and Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) go back to their Super teams next week. They will be back, if selected, for the last two rounds of Sevens. A chance for established sevens players to fight for a place at Rio
R2D2
Guest
SBW firstly can defend and anybody that gets pass him has to be very good. Secondly, within 50 m of the try line , he will attract defenders. Thirdly , he can break tackles and offload. With Akira Ioane , he got another player who can do the same thing, hence create space for others in the team including SBW and with that option NZ has a nice balance. The twin tower approach from NZ gives them plenty of option to exploit the opposition.
taylorman
Roar Guru
SBW himself perhaps?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yep, point taken. It was only the comments NB made that brought much of that out. Like everyone says...first tournament, needs more matches and does need to find his way in terms of what sort of 7's player he is. He expects more of himself and he'll be out to prove himself. There's still a possibility that his skillset and age for this game isn't there to be a dominant figure (speed, scrum, lineout, breakdowns) and that he'll hate it- having to do all the things he's rarely done before. The NZ side has gone for the physical approach, something he should excel at. Guys like Savea, Ioane etc are in the thick of that sort of thing all the time, and they're young. Time will tell, just a gut feel he won't enjoy it, and that's a biggie with SBW, he's gotta like what he does.
dsat24
If Titch backs him, whos arguing? Who?
dsat24
Latin dancing in South America, who da thunk it :)
BBA
Guest
Gee Taylorman you are tough I think SBW is a top shelf XV's player and would add a lot to any team he plays for which he has done throughout his union career. The issue with SBW is to what extent he can improve, if he can get markedly better then he is an asset for the team. There will be injuries to maximise your chances of winning you need a deep squad, not everyone is going to be selected, so dont people off too early. It would be a major miracle if SBW had been shown to be "top shelf" in his first sevens tournament.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
In NRL you make the player, take your time to get up to slow the play the ball. The third tackler will be the slowest getting onside as a result.
Not Bothered
Guest
sadly I think Aus has as much chance of playing for the gold as Kenya, not a lot. The teams likely are NZ, Fiji, SA. Outsiders are USA, England, Arg. Faiytale: Aus, Samoa, Kenya, France. Wont hapen: Everyone else.
Taylorman
Guest
Hi RT, yes good thing is he has some good alternatives now which with the injuries from earlier events must be a relief. SBW will not define the 2016 side, but he could be useful, as he was for the ABs. I still feel Leagues a calling. It still remains the one sport he is truly top shelf.
Not Bothered
Guest
So SBW took an age to get back onside in league? Not the games I watched. Not in the union games Ive watched either. SBW wasnt good enough imo. He was too high in the tackle too often. His 2 offloads that went wrong were bad but easily fixed and far from the norm. They were a problem but not a great concern going forward I wouldnt think. His pace is not as high as most 7s players either but I think its quick enough to get by as long as he tightens up the rest of his 7s game. Akira Ioane is going to be an incredible player. We are looking at a player that has the potential to be the best player to have ever played union. Now I dont mean he will be but I do mean he has that kind of potential. Great to see NZ win after the buzzer twice. That shows heart. Some labeled it luck but luck had nothing to do with it. It was heart, skill and true ABs spirit.
wardad
Guest
Arrgghh tennis ,golf whats next ballroom dancing ?
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Gordon Tietjens will decide if SBW makes it or not. I happen to agree with comments made but what would I know... Tietjens been there done that - he also dictates the role that he wants SBW to play, he also warned before the Wellington 7's that he would not be up to speed ... yet. Will he make it ... time will tell.
cuw
Guest
@ taylorman if u use 'neither' u have to use "nor" , just like "either " and "or" :D anyways dont agree he is not made for 7s , he just needs experience. like i told u b4, maybe a couple of seasons in the whole series, he will be good. but then he just wants to go to RIO. i think SGT is going to have him as a standby - given the rate at which the nz 7s guys were geting injured. as i said b4, SBW's ticket to fame is Curry is out for the season.
Spanners
Guest
I get the feeling that come August 11, if NZ are playing Australia to decide the Olympic Gold Medal, that there will be a few people both here and over the ditch that might argue differently. Either way, it sure can't hurt the code. The 2012 Olympics had a global audience of 3,640,000,000 people. I think the format of 7's will be a huge hit with audiences and this tournament has the potential to boost the code like no other event in the history of our sport. Bring it on!!
Taylorman
Guest
Yeah it's taking a lot from one tournament. I think they were under pressure to play him if even just to boost ticket sales. Which incidentally didn't really work though in terms of all round quality of Sevens it was right up there with any in Wellington due to the so called weaker sides putting on a good show. SBW will get better. He got around ok but just didn't click, the first dropped ball from the first kickoff setting him back possibly. Plenty of time to decide whether it's for him or not and he'll give it his best shot. Makes Sydney interesting for him.
winston
Guest
He'll be fine. Same things were said when he was starting out in union.
jcr
Guest
Agree with taylorman re SBW . Doesn't add enough , no denying he's a talented sportsman but he hasn't got the acceleration, the top speed, the defensive read , the speed to get back off the ground and back into the game ( especially if it's your mistake ) . Sevens players tend to be picked young and lean , 15 s players tend to be bulky . You can go up but not usually back down . Think about wedding cake !
puff
Guest
SBW, can tick numerous boxes but the Rio box requires attributes he may no-longer have in his arsenal. It is true that on the paddock he looks imposing but the NZ team appear to have a bunch with such a resume, Ioane Bro’s, Lam just to name a few. These gents have a common factor youth and if you include the experienced campaigners who are injured and Messam who is also uncompromising in the middle of the park. A starting slot may not be guaranteed. As a sweeper or out wide he is to slow, playing him in the forwards is logical but Ardie Savea is faster, more athletic and much more accomplished at the breakdown. With that said, Tietjens has been around the block many times, he is very careful making statements and player selections. Knowing this abilities SB must fit into the puzzle as he is a great athlete.