He had his best game in NZ in my opinion, with a good try included.
I was/am one of the "haterz" (what the unintelligent call people with a different view point), not because I didn't think he was impressive, but because I think it sends a bad messgae to the NZ public, and I think all this great work and improvement in SBW, will be gone overseas after 2011. I always conceded he was a good athlete, albeit the amount of attention he gets from the commentators is unlike almost any rugby player I've ever seen, however I don't like the message that a player can ask for a big price (even not as big in Toloun), to play in an All Black jersey. Has he been worth his mony in interest? Yes, it seems the public can't get enough of him, either to love or hate him, but for the NZRU to offer that kinf of money, to an unproven player with a somewhat shady buisness history, with almost a guarentee that they'll get a All Black jersey, I can still safely say I disagree with. He's doing better than I expected, I'll even concede that, but I think it's important to remember the investment Canterbury and NZ are putting into SBW. They're training him hard, focusing on what he needs to improve. Had that same effort been focused on a different player, you could probably have an equally skilled player, who would stick around in NZ longer.
Despite agreeing he's improved and doing better than I expected, I think woodward's opinion of him is definetly over inflated. Nonu has been one of the most important players in the AB's since 2008, and he just keeps showing signs of improving, now having a much better passing game and even to a lesser extent a kicking game. In my mind, SBW would have to be owning up like Jonah Lomu in the 1995 RWC, to warrant a spot in the starting XV come the semi finals and finals.
Olyy, SBW is almost guarenteed to start for the Crusaders. His biggest opposition for the jersey it Crotty, and SBW seems to be preferenced over him.
