Missing a couple of pre-season matches will allow Sonny Bill Williams to return from suspension to face the Wallabies in the Bledisloe Cup series opener in Sydney.
All Blacks centre Williams copped a four-match ban for his shoulder charge on British and Irish Lions winger Anthony Watson in the recent second Test loss, missing the drawn third Test.
He also missed the Blues’ final Super Rugby season clash with the Sunwolves in Tokyo last week.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has confirmed Williams will be allowed to count two upcoming provincial pre-season matches for Counties-Manakau towards his ban.
In fact, Hansen is hoping the dual international will be able to count a club rugby match before one of those games, which would allow him to return for the All Blacks’ warm up against Taranaki and Counties one week prior to the August 19 first Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney.
“There’s one game that’s a bit contentious about whether they are going to consider it or not,” Hansen told NZ’s Radio Sport, referring to the club game.
“If that’s not the case then we’ll get him back just for the Test match.
“If it’s considered then we’ll get him back for the game of three halves that we play every year before the … Bledisloe starts.”
ClarkeG
Guest
the Bus...fingers in their ears?? ... apparently you have your fingers poking your eyes.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
At no point did Vunipola make any contact with Barrett's head. That's not a matter of opinion, it's a simple fact as it's on YouTube from every conceivable angle. Kiwis repeating it with their fingers in their ears doesn't make it so and nor does Barrett's Oscar-winning play acting.
lassitude
Guest
There's no justice. And even if there was you wouldn't get any :-)
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Havent we had it for like 14 years?
Paulo
Roar Rookie
The problem with a weeks instead of matches is if your not going to play fir a while then it could become a free-for-all. Last game of season, who cares if you cop a 6 week ban for the offseason?
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Still not over it then?
soapit
Guest
its all about the system rhys
soapit
Guest
unfortunately oz has picked up an aura of not being able to beat an egg at the same time.
soapit
Guest
all it really needs is for them to tweak the system so that to count games for a particular side you have to demonstrate a prior history of actually turning out for that side when youve been able
piru
Roar Rookie
SBW was guilty in this case.
Henry honey balls
Guest
No such thing as a guilty All Black. Always the victims.
jonnyacidseed
Roar Rookie
Agree, i,d rather he played for the Wallabies myself ;-)
Fionn
Guest
Don't worry, Rhys, we have Foley covering him in the 10 channel.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Ha ha nice?
Fionn
Guest
What does this have to do with Vunipola and/or Barrett? SBW moronically dropped a shoulder and internationally shoulder charged the bloke. As things happen in rugby, particularly when players are being tackled, the position of the player dropped and so SBWs shoulder connected with his face. He probably didn't intend to hit his face, but he intended to shoulder charge, and accepted the risk that the player might be injured and/or he might make contact with the face or head. How can some people be defending this still?
Fionn
Guest
No, that's nonsense. A club rugby game is not equal to a SR or international game.
ClarkeG
Guest
The difference between you and Hansen?...oh my where should we start?
woodart
Guest
did you not read the post above. a game is a game,all games are equal. what would be more ridiculous would be classing games differentley for punishment purposes, much more likely to be gerrymandered.
ClarkeG
Guest
I would suggest the system is presently simple. I think to get around your concerns the system would need to become less simple. Presently all matches at whatever level are considered equal...it can't be any more simple than that. A couple of quotes from Reg 17: - "...including the core principle of universality which means that Players who are suspended at any level of the Game shall have their suspension recognised and applied at all levels of the Game and in the territories of all Unions and Associations." "All Matches are equal. A Player suspended from playing the Game shall be suspended from participating in any Match at any level during the period of his suspension."
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Rick, nice rant ... "but in Hansen we trust" ... as you pointed out, he has the runs on the board. No one is perfect but I believe the only glaring error he made was in his selections against Ireland in Chicago with his second row. He has specialist 2nd rowers in the squad but chose not to play/start with them weakening No 5 and No 6 at the same time. Not suggesting the AB's would have won that encounter regardless as Ireland were absolutely firing but there was definitely a change when Barrett was subbed on. If that was Hansen's only critical error since he took over in 2012, I think we should cut him a bit of slack and trust his selections to play his game plan.