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Sonny Bill Williams News + Progress in ITM Cup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d92QQZtzdf0
only got to see the highlights which may have been focusing on him a bit, looks pretty awesome though. He's definitely going on the EOYT at this rate he might even earn it

Great pace from Ben Souness to pull an in and out on a winger!
My favorite part of the clip though is when 20 year old Kane Barrett rucks the **** out of George Whitelock at the end. He lies all over the opposition ball every game and no one has had the balls to do anything about it until now
 
i think you're being a bit harsh Sam, he sparked a hell of a lot of attacking opportunites, it was definitely more positive than negitive. Defensively he wasn't really tested.[/QUOTE]
Absolute truth, you cant argue. He definately does more valuable good then bad. I'm just dying for him to smash someone because big hits is what he can bring back to the ABs. New Zealand Rugby at grass roots level has some MEAN hitmen who have perfected the art of 'smashed-em-bro', Sonny is one of these guys who can put you on a strecther if you try to run straight through his perimeter, or a centre who feels SBW is where your gonna do your mid-field crash. I know its not as easy for him to pull these off like it was for him in League but I have to admit big hits was one of my expectations of SBW. Dont get me wrong though I love SBW, he's just cool man.:cool:
I don't think he will do,
When at Toulon any big hits he did do he got penalised for or were very very marginal, as he still hits like a League player (no arms) - much like Shontayne Hape, when you watch him play, his tackles are very dodgy
 
I don't think he will do,
When at Toulon any big hits he did do he got penalised for or were very very marginal, as he still hits like a League player (no arms) - much like Shontayne Hape, when you watch him play, his tackles are very dodgy
Yeah thats just the thing, you dont want him giving away penalties. Hopefully he's sorted that out (the wrapping of the arms) so we can see his solid defensive abilities.
 
I think some of the kind of hits your talking about olyy were in the highlights vid I posted earlier, either in this thread or the other. Personally I thought they looked marginally legit but he will get pinged for it either way as he is associated with shoulder charges. If it's something a coach wants out of him and I'm not sure it is because of penalty/injury risk then its something he could have going for him again. Really its not a huge change to wrap arms and probably go a bit lower too.
 
It takes a long time to get that out of somebodys system when it's instinct though. Vinakolo & Hape are both still a real pain in the arse for it, 4 years after switching codes and even Chris Ashton still occasionally does it despite he comes from a cross-code background. The only player (supprisingly) who wasn't too bad after switching in recent times was Andy Farrell.

SBW is an instinct player as opposed to a thinker, so it'll be bloody hard for him to stop leading with the shoulder or the forearm in contact. In Test rugby especially.
 
It takes a long time to get that out of somebodys system when it's instinct though. Vinakolo & Hape are both still a real pain in the arse for it, 4 years after switching codes and even Chris Ashton still occasionally does it despite he comes from a cross-code background. The only player (supprisingly) who wasn't too bad after switching in recent times was Andy Farrell.

SBW is an instinct player as opposed to a thinker, so it'll be bloody hard for him to stop leading with the shoulder or the forearm in contact. In Test rugby especially.

To be fair, the comment that bought this whole discussion up by Sam was the fact that he isn't putting big hits in. In his 3 games he hasn't shown any sign of the league shoulderbarge background. So far it looks like hes over compensating, he doesn't miss tackles but he doesn't have any power in them either.
 
To be fair, the comment that bought this whole discussion up by Sam was the fact that he isn't putting big hits in. In his 3 games he hasn't shown any sign of the league shoulderbarge background. So far it looks like hes over compensating, he doesn't miss tackles but he doesn't have any power in them either.

Guilty as charged, Im just saying, if he put in some big tackles on a regular along with the way he's attacking right now, it'll be very hard for the selectors not to put him in the touring squad.
 
Fair enough for now, but if he plays in the AIs he'll need to do better when the likes of of Tindall, Roberts or Jouzion are running at him. Especially Roberts who gave him quite a comprehensive schooling during the ECC final only a few short months ago.
 
Fair enough for now, but if he plays in the AIs he'll need to do better when the likes of of Tindall, Roberts or Jouzion are running at him. Especially Roberts who gave him quite a comprehensive schooling during the ECC final only a few short months ago.

Yeah but Roberts is very good, I rate him. He could school many from anywhere, even those more experienced then him.
 
Yeah but Roberts is very good, I rate him. He could school many from anywhere, even those more experienced then him.

Also the best thing about going to school is learning something. He's not been in Rugby Union long really and some players can take 2-3 years to adjust, if indeed they do adjust. With any luck and the right coaching, he could become a top line player.

The jury is still well out on this guy to either be a flop or a success really.
 
Seeing him more and more in the ITM I have a feeling he will be a good player but not a world beater. I see him just being a player the All Blacks will use on hard flat ground where the game is open and his offloads and neat passes. Also with only really being able to play 12 I think he needs to look at seeing if he can find another position also so he can be a bit versatile.
 
Also with only really being able to play 12 I think he needs to look at seeing if he can find another position also so he can be a bit versatile.

No.8 is the only other position I could see him play.
 
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Its not too much of a stretch to see him playing 13 in a Rene Ranger style, i could also see him on the wing

I think he's too slow to play on the wing. I would play him at 13...
 
I think he's too slow to play on the wing. I would play him at 13...

I dont know, when he chooses to turn on the jets hes pretty damn quick. He obviously isn't the quickest off the mark but neither is Hosea Gear.. He seems like hes always going half pace and looking to set other players up, if you put him on the wing and told him that plan a was run it and plan b is pass then he could be alright. Last weekend he blitzed everyone for pace when going back to collect a kick, one of those guys was under 20 flyer Veainu and another was Samoa fullback George Pisi. I dont think top end pace is a huge issue.

Edit; just watched the highlights again, in another instance he turns to chase a kicked ball and outpaces speed merchant David Smith to the extent that Smith gives up the race and concedes possession. Hes definitely fast enough to play wing.
 
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Last weekend he blitzed everyone for pace when going back to collect a kick, one of those guys was under 20 flyer Veainu and another was Samoa fullback George Pisi. I dont think top end pace is a huge issue.

Yep I saw that he just looked faster than the two chasing after it.
 
Well he like Brad Thorn use to play in the forwards for League. He shows good leg drive when tackled and has good height for lineouts.
you said the only positions he could play are 12 and 8, what about 13?

you can cross being slow off the list of alleged flaws lol
 
you said the only positions he could play are 12 and 8, what about 13?

you can cross being slow off the list of alleged flaws lol

Oh well why not?..yes your right 13 he could slot into as well. Beginning to see him more in a versatile light now.
 

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