All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says a season-ending injury for Sonny Bill Williams will at least give the multi-talented code hopper’s body a chance to recharge.
Williams has juggled both rugby codes and boxing over several years, with only the occasional injury interrupting a distinguished career stuffed full of titles and honours.
However, his run of success stopped in Rio last week, when he suffered a partially ruptured Achilles tendon in the sevens tournament at the Rio Olympics.
Hansen said the injury would allow Williams to spend more time with his family but would also provide another positive.
“He gets plenty of time for his body to recharge and probably hasn’t had a break for a long time,” Hansen said after the All Blacks arrived in Sydney for next Saturday’s Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup Test.
“He’s been cross-coding in so many sports, he’s such a talented person.
“We’ll miss him, but at the same time it’s an opportunity for someone else.”
Hansen has become used to filling gaps in the All Blacks roster with the retirements of several prominent players after last year’s World Cup triumph.
The new-look side passed their first post-World Cup exam with a 3-0 home sweep of Wales in June.
Hansen stressed it was time for the new generation of players to make their mark on the big match scene, with Saturday’s Test providing the opportunity.
“We lost 818 caps so not many too teams could do that,” Hansen said.
“But we knew they were going, so we’ve been planning for it for a long time.
“That’s the exciting thing for this team now, we’ve got to stand up in the big arenas and show we can still do it, so that’s what we’re looking forward to on Saturday.”
The Wallabies took no joy out of the fact that they would no longer have to worry about countering the Williams threat this weekend.
“We want to play their best team, we want to win against their best team,” Wallabies’ vice-captain and back-rower Michael Hooper said.
“It’s unfortunate a guy like him won’t be there.”
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
You can add Moala (but out with injury for this test), Anton Lienert-Brown, Rene Ranger and perhaps Reiko Ioane to conver to 13..
canadiankiwi
Guest
Except in over 5 seasons of Super Rugby with Hurricanes and Chiefs, Ngatia has never been injury free.
canadiankiwi
Guest
He has never been a regular starter in the All Blacks.
McCaw was onside?
Guest
I agree on Ngatai. Hes got all the skills. Very good player. Ngatai, SBW, Tamanivalu, Crotty, Fekitoa. No worries in the centre depatment.
McCaw was onside?
Guest
De Jong? The guys been around for ages, hes not coming up. Hes 28.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Yeah, but did you see that wonderful try he setup in the WC final?
CUW
Guest
in Ngatai's absence, Anton Linert Brown has stepped up - so much he got called into allblacks squad. my only worry is - just like Ngatai , LALB also has had a few leg injuries. and like Ngatai , he has lost pace - not as quick as he was with the u20 team,. the world has a few quick centers coming up and showing good form - like DeJong , DeLa Fuente and the Irish guy who played in the mid year tests and Rohan Van jansberg.
CUW
Guest
will he be ready for BLUES?
maximillian
Guest
I really hope Charlie Ngatai can shake his concussion issues. He was 1 of the form 12s of Super Rugby before his stint on the sidelines & Id like to see what he can do for the ABs. With SBW out long term there is an opportunity for someone to stake an early claim for the 12 jersey. Ngatai looks the best option in NZ IMO.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Does signing with the Blues count?
McCaw was onside?
Guest
Might be but considering everything hes tried to do hes done.
McCaw was onside?
Guest
And you sound like a SBW hater. Best if you try to split the 2.
Hoy
Roar Guru
He's been playing 7s this year. What do you want him to do?
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Might be the end for SBW in the black jersey. By next year, the centre combination should be established, and a few more players taking up the reserve spots.
Dopplerman
Guest
SBW isn't shy of the media granted .......but Hansen and the ABs are purely cunning and tactical they prefer their results do the talking . SBWs headlines take the heat off the Abs in relation to the hungry headline chasing media. You might get the odd provocative coach's statement that's it !
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Hansen is a SBW fanboy like the media. I like SBW but even i'm getting sick of all the headlines he is getting, Has he done anything of note since setting up Nonu for a try in the WC?