Sonny Bill Williams eyeing French rugby return: reports

Yes SBW was always going to be an impact player. Well except for most of the tests he played when he wasnt. I can understand why you keep running him down, making up negative stuff and arguing with anyone who says anything positive about SBW. Its because you dont @te SBW.

No Im not confusing anything. Every single post Ive read of yours has been running SBW down including all of your posts on this thread. Not some, all. SBW is famous for taking everything he does in an ultimately professional way and everyone whos coached and trained with him in and around the ABs has commented on how dedicated and professional he is. So again, dont make up things. SBW has left NZ rugby once. He took a pay cut to go and play 7s for NZ and is not leaving NZ rugby, its sarificing financial benifit in a risky attempt to rep NZ at Rio. There is a reasonable chance that he may have given up a lot for no reward if he isnt selected for Rio. All you do is say "SBW was nothing but a bit player, that is always after money and that thing he did wasnt actually that good". And then pretend that you dont h@te SBW. Well heres why I doubt that. SBW wasnt just a bit player, doesnt always go for money and those things he does that you seem to always play down, well they are applauded by most including S.Hansen.

Hello, conrad set up the first, crucial, try in the RWC final - Nehe in the corner - vs Australia. Worked move, and clinical too....

Well Smith is nearly 34.

Conrad Smith was a great All Black...but he merely a shadow of his peak ability in the last 18 months of his career. His pace had slipped dramatically and he practically had zero impact as an offensive player over that time. He retained his defensive skills and together with his vast experience this kept him in the team, barely. Hansen subbed him quite often and it was telling he was subbed at halftime in the final. I believe if there wasn't a RWC, Conrad would have retired at least 12 months earlier. Same for Mealamu and Woodcock.

They've just started a much larger tv contract (the clubs aren't dependent on money from that) with ratings over 1 million for some games, local council support with stadiums that they don't have to pay for, strong currency, local companies sponsor teams (see Pau with Total, Castres Pierre Fabre, Clermont Michelin etc). Toulouse don't have a sugar daddy and own their stadium (one of the few that do). Companies like Airbus are based in Toulouse. Their budget is around €32 million for the season. Boudjallel isn't throwing money down a pit (Lorenzetti is far richer than he is). His club is profitable and don't have the biggest budget in the comp. He is able to move home games to Marseille and Nice and fill the stadia so they have a big support base. Crowd average is dependant on stadium capacity. A lot of clubs are upgrading or moving. Grenoble are now full time in the 25,000 seat football stadium. Racing is building a 30,000 seat stadium near the Paris business district. Bordeaux have just got prime tenancy on a 37,000 seater after the football club moved out to the new stadium. Now they have one of the highest attendances in Europe and can afford players like AAC, Kepu, etc. Been in the Top 14 about four seasons now. Already playing in not the Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken and heading towards the Top 14 playoffs. They're aren't dependent on a sugar daddy, several sponsors invest in the club.

Er...you are wrong about some of this stuff. SBW WAS the first choice 2nd five for the AB's the season before he returned to league, Nonu was having a horror time and for a short period was surpassed by SBW. Secondly, take with a grain of salt about him playing in France after Rio. Gregor Paul from the Herald, who is for all intents and purposes, Hansen's media mouthpiece has this to say :- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11617469

and why is that? the TV money, crowds and merchansie arent that big, will generous owners keep throwing money into a pit?

i know i am just rehashing one of KPM comments he has made 100 times

He thought highly of him as a reserve for the final you mean. He didn't rate him above Smith because he would have started him if so. SBW was always going to come on as an impact player.

No that's not true Not Bothered, I have enjoyed a lot of what SBW did and could do in rugby. You are confusing that with arguing some points with you often and argued that saw him in a better light than Nonu, that he was as much a first choice in the position when the reality is at no pont in his career has SBW ever been considered ahead of Nonu in the running for selection at 12. That is different from 'not liking him'. He has a lot of skills, offloading being the standout one but in terms of his all round play and instinct for the game he didn't get close to what Nonu achieved. And part of that I believe is because he didn't consider being an AB the ultimate in sport as most ABs do. He could take it or leave it, literally, yet would still get more publicity for in terms of value as an AB for doing less. Nothing wrong with that, he's his own man and good luck to him, but to choose Toulon when he has a chance to nail a permanent position in the ABs down for a few more seasons suggests only one thing, money is more important. It couldn't possibly be the sporting challenge. If McCaw is considered the ultimate in terms of dedication to the teams he believes in, by refusing to play for anyone else outside the Crusaders and All Blacks, and if guys like DC, Conrad Smith, Nonu give their all until their careers are nearly over, bar strict time limited sabbaticals, then SBW stands on the outer of them both. He dumped League for Toulon, and us now dumping the ABs for it. Can't be bothered following floaters and window shoppers out for the best bargains for themselves sorry. I mean what's the best he can achieve at Toulon? Win the championship? Big deal. After two world cups, NRL and SXV titles etc I doubt the trophy would even feel comfortable on the same shelf.

Look I dont agree. SBW has been picked for NZ and been very good as he has for the Chiefs. Hes not been "finding his feet" all the time, hes been very good and picked for that reason. In Super Rugby hes been simply outstanding. Are you saying that SBW was picked for some other reason, not his ability and form? I also dont understand the suggestion that the ABs will stop developing players for the future because of SBW. Why would that happen?

Is this prediction that SBW wont go to Rio if Curry is in like your prediction that Launchbury, Lawes and Kruis wont make the English squad? I think it might depend on how he plays and if hes fit. I am not sure but since every other player is treated that way I just thought SBW might be too.

Funny how people here let their personal feelings cloud the truth. The guys won everything he possibly can as a rugby player. Still the weirdos arent satisfied. Hansen thought so highly of him, considered him a major trump card that he replaced arguably NZs greatest centre of the pro era with SBW at half time in a World Cup final which led directly to a great Nonu try immediately after the break and the weirdos still doubt him. I guess the AB selectors don't know as much as you lot.

And Taylorman if you were being honest you would say that youve never really liked SBW, that youve always ran him and his ability down.

SBW was excellent in the WC and in the final. Nonu did not sprint onto the ball, he caught it flat footed. However lucky for him that SBW had drawn FOUR defenders and had offloaded, creating a massive gap for Nonu to run through. Thats what SBW does, he creates opportunities for others.

Whereas all other comps and clubs dont care about money. Oh wait, all care about money. But SBW just wants money. Thays why he took a pay cut to go to NZ union, then another pay cut when he returned to league, then another when he went to 7s. Look I dont care if you dont like SBW but dont make up reasons to h@te him that are clearly false. If SBW just cared about money he never would have done half the things he has done and he never would have played for NZ 7s or the ABs. Come on, lets keep it real and not try to validate irrational h@te with fantasy.

Bastereaud, Dunny Bill & Nonu as centre options for Toulon scary thought.

Well he made the pass. It was Nonu who flew onto the ball at pace, sprinted forty odd meters to beat the defence. I think his involvement in the try is a little overrated actually. Nouns aggression and attitude was the primary source of that try. Ngatai Fekitoa for me, initially at least. Fekitoa was preferred to Crotty as replacement for Smith and Nonu last couple of years and has had the better start in 2016...don't see that that's changed. Fekitoa offers more as a line breaker and hit man on D, and has more aggression and X factor, where Crotty is more 'safe' than special. But wouldn't overly surprise if Crotty heads him if. They're both worthy of the position.

He'll be back for the Lions Tour in 2017, contract or no contract.