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Sonny Bill Williams News + Progress in ITM Cup
- Thread starter Haysie
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Or maybe people have informed opinions (don't worry, you'll have one, one day).
ranger
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Pffft
Ouch.
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That was an unnecessary little jibe. Anyway, proper grammatical standards should always be enforced.
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cyRil
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Beat me to it! I was gonna land on you like a sumo wrestler pal!!That was an unnecessary little jibe. Anyway, proper grammatical standards should always be enforced.
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Beat me to it! I was gonna land on you like a sumo wrestler pal!!
I don't know what you're talking about.:whistle3:
i was a hater on sonny bill, but i see now he's playing well. but the only reason i hate on him and i'm still worried about is if he was put into the starting lineup and could break the Nonu and Smith combination that has been doing so well, after the AB's have been searching so long for a good midfield combo.
He has been playing well though and is dangerous so he deserve a spot in the team, but thats another thing coz i like Robbie Fruen more and i think Robbie Fruen has been playing better than SBW all season, plus he has the same strengths as SBW and more, he offloads just as well, he's just as strong, just as fast, plus he has all the union experience and is a smarter player. but if SBW is picked than Fruen will most likely miss out
He has been playing well though and is dangerous so he deserve a spot in the team, but thats another thing coz i like Robbie Fruen more and i think Robbie Fruen has been playing better than SBW all season, plus he has the same strengths as SBW and more, he offloads just as well, he's just as strong, just as fast, plus he has all the union experience and is a smarter player. but if SBW is picked than Fruen will most likely miss out
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Dizzy
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LMAO!!! Right now I'm laughing at the fact that I couldn't understand what you were trying to say with this post.
Dizzy
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It was a text from his mother that confirmed that Sonny Bill Williams was in the All Blacks.
The star second-five was flying from Christchurch to Auckland for some promotional activities.
His flight was delayed and he was still in the air when acting NZRU chairman Mike Eagle read his name out among the 30 players for the end of season tour.
Although he probably had more than an inkling that he'd made the cut, it was only when he arrived at Auckland Airport and turned on his phone that he got the confirmation, from his mother.
"My flight was delayed, so I didn't land in time for announcement," Williams said at Eden Park last night, long after all the other players being interviewed had gone.
"As soon as I turned my phone on about 20 messages popped up.
"The first one was from the old lady and she was pretty happy.
"It's an unreal feeling at the moment, but I think people that I have to thank the most is Tana [Umaga] for getting me to go to rugby in the first place and having the foresight to see that I could play rugby.
"Then obviously Wayne Smith and Graham Henry for seeing that I could become something over here.
"I think when I first went to rugby I had a lot of self doubts, thinking I don't know if I can make it or not and it's all turned out really good. I'm just trying to soak it up at the moment."
Williams always plays with plenty of confidence on the field, he has to to go for those offloads or runs that few other rugby players would contemplate, but he said the support he's had from around the country while playing for Canterbury has given him a massive lift.
"The big thing for me coming back here was the amount of support I've got from the public," he said.
"Not just in Canterbury, but going to places like Whangarei and Southland and little kids coming up to me knowing my name.
"That's really helped my self confidence and as a person to grow.
"I'm happy with picking Canterbury to go to, to go in that environment and I think it's paid dividends to get into that system straight away.
"I've really taken to the boys and hopefully they've taken to myself too."
Williams was already a more than handy rugby player during his time at Toulon, but he says he's been able to take his game to another level under Canterbury coach Rob Penney during the provincial season, with each week more improvements coming from his game.
"It's come on leaps and bounds," he said.
"I made it a point when I came back here that I really wanted to work on the distribution part of my game because when you watch players like Ma'a Nonu, who's the best midfielder in New Zealand, when you look at him you see that he can break a tackle, he can put players into gaps and that's what I wanted to add to my game.
"I've still got a lot to learn and this is only the first phase, but you won't be wiping the smile of my face tonight that's for sure."
A turning point in Williams' career was meeting Wayne Smith in France over a year ago. It was during a chat with him and Umaga that the dream of being an All Black first came to light.
"Smithy was over in France seeing Dan Carter [at Perpignan] and he happened to stop by and see Tana and we caught up for a coffee," Williams said.
"We talked about a few things back then and I'd been injured and I said I needed to string some games together to know whether I could crack it and thank God towards the end of my last year with Toulon I strung 20 games together and I started getting a feel for it.
"Then Graham Henry and Wayne Smith had the foresight and belief in me that I could probably do something back here.
"It's been a tough road and a lot of hard work, but I'm just proud because this is biggest achievement I've ever had in my sporting career.
"I've had a lot of ups and downs, but this is the biggest up I've had."
Source: Stuff.co.nz
The star second-five was flying from Christchurch to Auckland for some promotional activities.
His flight was delayed and he was still in the air when acting NZRU chairman Mike Eagle read his name out among the 30 players for the end of season tour.
Although he probably had more than an inkling that he'd made the cut, it was only when he arrived at Auckland Airport and turned on his phone that he got the confirmation, from his mother.
"My flight was delayed, so I didn't land in time for announcement," Williams said at Eden Park last night, long after all the other players being interviewed had gone.
"As soon as I turned my phone on about 20 messages popped up.
"The first one was from the old lady and she was pretty happy.
"It's an unreal feeling at the moment, but I think people that I have to thank the most is Tana [Umaga] for getting me to go to rugby in the first place and having the foresight to see that I could play rugby.
"Then obviously Wayne Smith and Graham Henry for seeing that I could become something over here.
"I think when I first went to rugby I had a lot of self doubts, thinking I don't know if I can make it or not and it's all turned out really good. I'm just trying to soak it up at the moment."
Williams always plays with plenty of confidence on the field, he has to to go for those offloads or runs that few other rugby players would contemplate, but he said the support he's had from around the country while playing for Canterbury has given him a massive lift.
"The big thing for me coming back here was the amount of support I've got from the public," he said.
"Not just in Canterbury, but going to places like Whangarei and Southland and little kids coming up to me knowing my name.
"That's really helped my self confidence and as a person to grow.
"I'm happy with picking Canterbury to go to, to go in that environment and I think it's paid dividends to get into that system straight away.
"I've really taken to the boys and hopefully they've taken to myself too."
Williams was already a more than handy rugby player during his time at Toulon, but he says he's been able to take his game to another level under Canterbury coach Rob Penney during the provincial season, with each week more improvements coming from his game.
"It's come on leaps and bounds," he said.
"I made it a point when I came back here that I really wanted to work on the distribution part of my game because when you watch players like Ma'a Nonu, who's the best midfielder in New Zealand, when you look at him you see that he can break a tackle, he can put players into gaps and that's what I wanted to add to my game.
"I've still got a lot to learn and this is only the first phase, but you won't be wiping the smile of my face tonight that's for sure."
A turning point in Williams' career was meeting Wayne Smith in France over a year ago. It was during a chat with him and Umaga that the dream of being an All Black first came to light.
"Smithy was over in France seeing Dan Carter [at Perpignan] and he happened to stop by and see Tana and we caught up for a coffee," Williams said.
"We talked about a few things back then and I'd been injured and I said I needed to string some games together to know whether I could crack it and thank God towards the end of my last year with Toulon I strung 20 games together and I started getting a feel for it.
"Then Graham Henry and Wayne Smith had the foresight and belief in me that I could probably do something back here.
"It's been a tough road and a lot of hard work, but I'm just proud because this is biggest achievement I've ever had in my sporting career.
"I've had a lot of ups and downs, but this is the biggest up I've had."
Source: Stuff.co.nz
you know, regardless of the crap storm that came from his bulldogs split and all the media hype and such and the big money the NZRU found to get him here. He's actually a pretty good dude and he did take a big pay cut to come to NZ and prove himself. He backed himself, took a risk and it paid off. Shame the likes of Summerville & Hayman didn't do the same.
I hope it keeps working out. This is just the start.
I hope it keeps working out. This is just the start.
Shaggy
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Ummm ... while i'm happy/satisfied that SBW has earned his CHANCE in the ABs on form and merit, he still needs to take that opportunity that he's been given, and prove himself at international level
... besides, he's one player in a team sport ... a champion team beats a team of champions, and all that
Well said.
