Sonny Bill Williams News + Progress in ITM Cup

[Larksea]

the guy obviously has an awesome work ethic, you dont get a physique like his by just turning up to footy training 3-4 times a week. And some of the coaches he's worked under have talked about how good he is at training, focused and willing to learn, great listener.

I tend to think that the ego he shows if to the press at times gets put in the back seat during training & game day.

He already sticks out to me on the rugby field as a player that has that something extra. Not just because he's 6 ft 4+ built like a brick wall. He's got some serious ball skills.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

the guy obviously has an awesome work ethic

Not familiar with his past, i take it?

 

[ranger]

Not familiar with his past, i take it?

Contract issues and that have nothing to do with how hard he trains..

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Contract issues and that have nothing to do with how hard he trains..

Surely work ethic has everything to do with him as a player for a team?
What if he decides that Crusaders isn't where he wants to be and walks out halfway through his contract?
I'm not saying this will happen, just that you can't say he has an awesome work ethic when he did something like that.

 

[ranger]

Surely work ethic has everything to do with him as a player for a team?
What if he decides that Crusaders isn't where he wants to be and walks out halfway through his contract?
I'm not saying this will happen, just that you can't say he has an awesome work ethic when he did something like that.

I dont know i think i just personally draw a distinction between how hard he works at training and the off field contract decisions he makes.. They seem like two seperate issues.

Look at Piri Weepu, he has been steadfastly loyal to Wellington rugby. He has been cut from the All Blacks numerous times and had huge contract offers from overseas and decided to stick around in Wellington. He has been the only super 14 player to turn out for their province at the national sevens tournament for the last 5 or so years. He was demoted to the bench in the Super 14 this year and still turned down offers from other provinces to remain with the Hurricanes next season. Even at club level, he plays for his hometowns cellar dweller team and has turned down offers from more glamorous clubs, he plays more club rugby than any other All Black and in return the people of Wainuiomata have painted a 20 foot mural of the guy on their clubrooms. Moral of the story:Weepu is a loyal guy.
But look at the him, he cant stay out of KFC. He is constantly unfit and skipping practices, his work ethic in how hard he trains is **** poor verging on horrible.

SBW on the other hand has shown that he can make a disloyal decision, but you cant deny he works his heart out and gives everything at training. I would say that saying he has a good work ethic is a good descriptor.

At the same time i can see where youre coming from however..

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I dont know i think i just personally draw a distinction between how hard he works at training and the off field contract decisions he makes.. They seem like two seperate issues.

Look at Piri Weepu, he has been steadfastly loyal to Wellington rugby. He has been cut from the All Blacks numerous times and had huge contract offers from overseas and decided to stick around in Wellington. He has been the only super 14 player to turn out for their province at the national sevens tournament for the last 5 or so years. He was demoted to the bench in the Super 14 this year and still turned down offers from other provinces to remain with the Hurricanes next season. Even at club level, he plays for his hometowns cellar dweller team and has turned down offers from more glamorous clubs, he plays more club rugby than any other All Black and in return the people of Wainuiomata have painted a 20 foot mural of the guy on their clubrooms. Moral of the story:Weepu is a loyal guy.
But look at the him, he cant stay out of KFC. He is constantly unfit and skipping practices, his work ethic in how hard he trains is **** poor verging on horrible.

SBW on the other hand has shown that he can make a disloyal decision, but you cant deny he works his heart out and gives everything at training. I would say that saying he has a good work ethic is a good descriptor.

At the same time i can see where youre coming from however..

I think that post clearly explains how work ethic is not a blanket term.

 

[Teh Mite]

Some of you lot would argue white is black just to make sure your precious potential ABs are not being discredited.

Work ethic counts towards attitude in and you of work. It also includes the way you conduct yourself, your loyalty to a company or business and the image your representation of your company/business at every hour of every day. Anyone who argues against that doesn't have a clue about the real world works.

All Rangers point shows is that Wepu is loyal and he's a lazy ********. Danny Cipriani is just the same as SBW when it comes to training etc he also has a tendancy to conduct himself poorly off the field and (just like SBW) loses the plot after a period of time and becomes disinterested in playing rugby.

So enjoy it all you precious Kiwis; You've just bought yourself a Maori Danny Cipriani.

 

[Charles]

He's not Maori, he's from Samoan descent.

 

[Teh Mite]

In that case, he should never be an All Black anyway.

 

[Charles]

In that case, he should never be an All Black anyway.

Mmm, what? I think you are talking from you behind, sir. Or you don't know what you are talking about...

 

[Teh Mite]

You're the one who just said he's a bloody Samoan.

 

[nickdnz]

In that case, he should never be an All Black anyway.

He was born in New Zealand...


Although I do agree we've got ourselves a Cipriani/Henson type player now.

Henson pre season training: Dancing
Cipriani pre season training: Soccer
Williams pre season training: Boxing

Anyone remember when people used to train for rugby?

 

[Charles]

You're the one who just said he's a bloody Samoan.

There's a difference between being samoan and being from samoan descent I think...Or maybe my english is wrong. His parents are samoan; he's a kiwi.

 

[woodward]

In that case, he should never be an All Black anyway.

Accusing someone of racism is hardly a good look so I wont be the one to say it.

work ethic can mean a few different things so lets go by what he meant aye? Too difficult a task? ok bring up race then, good one.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Accusing someone of racism is hardly a good look so I wont be the one to say it.

work ethic can mean a few different things so lets go by what he meant aye? Too difficult a task? ok bring up race then, good one.

Bloody hell, are you really that dense?
It was said that SBW is Samoan, so Bullitt said he shouldn't be playing for New Zealand.
You can't expect everyone to know the detailed family history of every player, so all Bullitt was going off was the post saying he's not Maori but Samoan.

 

[woodward]

He was born in New Zealand...


Although I do agree we've got ourselves a Cipriani/Henson type player now.

Henson pre season training: Dancing
Cipriani pre season training: Soccer
Williams pre season training: Boxing

Anyone remember when people used to train for rugby?

Haven't seen enough flaws in his game to stick with criticising his rugby skills?

 

[woodward]

Bloody hell, are you really that dense?
It was said that SBW is Samoan, so Bullitt said he shouldn't be playing for New Zealand.
You can't expect everyone to know the detailed family history of every player, so all Bullitt was going off was the post saying he's not Maori but Samoan.

Samoan descent I believe was what was said. Sheesh you'd think the person who can't read would be the one labelled dense, alternatively neither of you know the difference between nationality and ethnicity?

 

[ranger]

Bullit; Can't i discuss a point (Which is really in essence about the term "work ethic" more than the bloke himself) Without being called precious because of the country i live in? This has nothing to do with parochial pride or the guy being "a precious potential AB", ******** to that. I just personally don't see a huge connection between how hard a guy trains and the contract decisions he makes. That is my personal interpretation, i said i saw where Olyy was coming from but my opinion differs. Whats wrong with that? Stop guessing my motives and sticking them on me..

There is also a difference between being of samoan decent and being samoan.. but i figure you were just joking about that anyway.

 

[Teh Mite]

Ranger - The precious comment wasn't aimed at you so much as certain others:

Samoan descent I believe was what was said. Sheesh you'd think the person who can't read would be the one labelled dense, alternatively neither of you know the difference between nationality and ethnicity?

For those of us big enough to not actually give a ****, race or ethnicity doesn't matter. When I'm told that SBW is a Samoan, in my mind that must mean he's a Samoan. Apparently though, that's a bit like calling an American "Irish".

The point I'm making however is stop picking fight with everyone, because next time it happens, WOODWARD, I will ban you so quickly you won't have time to finish the rant you're typing.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

Some of you lot would argue white is black just to make sure your precious potential ABs are not being discredited.

Work ethic counts towards attitude in and you of work. It also includes the way you conduct yourself, your loyalty to a company or business and the image your representation of your company/business at every hour of every day. Anyone who argues against that doesn't have a clue about the real world works.

All Rangers point shows is that Wepu is loyal and he's a lazy ********. Danny Cipriani is just the same as SBW when it comes to training etc he also has a tendancy to conduct himself poorly off the field and (just like SBW) loses the plot after a period of time and becomes disinterested in playing rugby.

So enjoy it all you precious Kiwis; You've just bought yourself a Maori Danny Cipriani.

Wow. I know that Woodward is picking fights with people and needs to be warned to tone it down, maybe banned soon if he can't be a little less aggravating.

It's just this post seems very angry at our New Zealand members in general. I'm sure that was never the intent, but it just felt a little that way. I'm not sure how I'd go saying anything that mirrored this in a Guinness Premiership or Heineken Cup thread.


To be honest, I'm not even going to say anything back. I'm just genuinely surprised.

Oh well, maybe we can all just move on and speak more of the legitimate issues here. How the ITM Cup is going? When will SBW score a try? Those kind of things.