Sonny Bill Williams admits he “let my brothers down” with his sending off in the All Blacks’ 24-21 loss in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
Midfield back Williams cut a contrite figure after learning he had been banned for four weeks for the shoulder charge on Lions winger Anthony Watson early in the Test in Wellington on Saturday.
He will miss the third and deciding Test, along with the Blues’ final game of the Super Rugby season against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on July 15.
The 31-year-old’s biggest concern was having let down his teammates when he became the first All Black sent off in a Test for 50 years.
His 25th-minute dismissal played a key part in the Lions levelling the series and ending a run of New Zealand home Test wins dating back to 2009.
“Obviously really disappointed, but happy with being able to get in there and say my piece,” Williams said in a brief statement outside NZ Rugby headquarters after a three-hour hearing on Sunday night.
“They’ve come to the conclusion that it was reckless, it wasn’t intentional. I’ve got in contact with Anthony and I’ve apologised to him, but very disappointed that I was sent from the field last night and let my brothers down.”
Williams pleaded guilty to unnecessary contact to the head.
The three-man judicial panel deemed the offence warranted a six-week suspension but that was reduced when mitigating factors including his early admission, his disciplinary record and remorse were factored in.
The All Blacks clearly anticipated a suspension, announcing hours earlier that Highlanders Malakai Fekitoa would join them ahead of the third Test at Eden Park.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had also provided an insight into how Williams felt.
“He’s disappointed. Not for himself, he accepts he’s made a mistake, but he’s disappointed because he’s let the team down,” Hansen said.
“We can’t go back and change it. People make mistakes. It’s a fluid game, it’s a fast game, it’s a physical game so we’ve got to move on from it.”
Marto
Guest
hahaha ^^ Out cold..hahaha
In brief
Guest
Not much in it? He knocked a Bloke out cold!!
In brief
Guest
I agree- if the issue is contact with the head then both should have equal treatment
Alex the jock
Guest
SBW was the Lions most valuable player, after his send off the flow changed and not in the Ab's favour. Its sad but the team wanted leadership in the centre and this let them down. There are other quality centres hey NZ has them in abundance. The final encounter will be an epic.
Sylvester
Guest
I didn't think there was much in the O'Brien tackle, even though it did make contact with the head. I was far more surprised Vunipola escaped further scrutiny for hitting Barrett in that ruck.
straya
Guest
Yep. Girly Bill Kardashian is a disgrace. It would have been wonderful for the Aussie judiciary to do NZ rugby a favour and ban him for a good long time so we don't have to put up with him striking up the joint.
DavSA
Guest
He most certainly did Tman ... No tries scored by the All Blacks and conceding 2 . This clearly goes to a shortage of numbers out wide when really needed. ... Just imagine if this was a World Cup final . ..
taylorman
Roar Guru
TBH I've got no sympathy for SBW. With Crotty absent he was tasked with the Leadership role in the midfield. He let the side down in that respect, the first requirement being to remain on the field!
KCR
Guest
Popcorn gone cold from waiting?
puff
Guest
To be fair the match doesn’t live up to the hype and to the SBW discipline issue completely changed the direction, dynamic and the complexity of the game. When you watch the clash in real time, we are talking micro- seconds, all three physical plays clatter into each other at about a 40+km impact. There was no way the end result was going to be appealing, therefore somewhat unfortunate. Northern Hemisphere refs regardless of the incident can be troubling to interpret and from my lounge chair noted numerous inconsistencies. We appear to be very privileged in this respect, as SH ref’s despite their home nation have a much more rounded appreciation of the rules and the way the game should flow. Cheika probably slept well, as the window opens a little.
Stin
Guest
No only completely different incidents, SBW is so lucky it's only 4 WEEKS. Weeks - not games!
Council
Guest
Not too fussed about O'Brien getting off, would of been nice to see Vunipola cited though so his clean out of Barrett. Them the breaks, bring on next week.
WEST
Roar Guru
Bugger... The ABs will need to bring their brains over brawn this week, Im sure the ABs left theirs at a Wellington Hotel before the game.
Marto
Guest
All the un zudders blowing up deluxe cos $BW got a 4 WEEK suspension..When Quade got 3 weeks for a cuddle tackle they screamed " He should have got more " ..They hypocrisy is strong on here.. Suck it up ..hahahaha
piru
Roar Rookie
I feel bad for him tbh, but it was always a red. I don't know what he was thinking, but it's rugby, being played at high speed and intensity, sometimes it goes wrong. Fair cop in my opinion, at least it made the game interesting.
James in NZ
Guest
Likewise complaining when your team won, complaining when your opposition got a fair red card ("what this is only the first one in 50 yrs shows how long the AB's have been getting away with it"...as I have read in the last 24 hrs a few times) and complaining when one of the players of the team you back gets away with concussing someone Scot free is not a good look in my book either. No one side is holier than thou.
MH01
Guest
Let's hear all the kiwis compare SBW and O"Brian tackle. Getting popcorn ? .
Fin
Guest
Not even close to equal incidents. Both players have been fairly dealt with. There are plenty of AB fans wanting to point the finger but there is only one person to blame.
soapit
Guest
difficult to be consistent across completely different circumstances.
soapit
Guest
obrien cleared as well. fair call, was going for the ball when naholo tucked his chin down into the area. guy i was watching it with didnt even reckon sbw shoulda got red but if thats the rules of the game four weeks seems about right, maybe a touch light, reckon you could find a few other examples of people flying into held players with their shoulders (thought i saw one from the lions as its the only way to make proper contact. sbw's was just too early and didnt have enough bodies around to block the view