‘ONE OF THE BEST’: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen shares a moment in 2012 with favoured player Sonny Bill Williams.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made it clear that Sonny Bill Williams will be on the end of year tour, though there are no guarantees he will play any games.
Hansen has voiced his views on the controversial decision to get Williams instantly into the All Blacks selection mix on his return from rugby league, even though he may not have played for his Counties Manukau union. His selection would be against ordinary New Zealand Rugby regulations.
Stuff NZ
The NZR board has granted an exemption to Williams though, smoothing the passage for his early return with the defence of next year’s World Cup rapidly looming.
Hansen told Radio Sport today that he had sounded out the Williams situation because he felt there was time pressure involved, both this year and next..
“I didn’t come out and ask for an exemption. What I asked for was I’d like to take him on the end of year tour,” Hansen said.
He felt there was some “grey area” over when Williams would return to New Zealand given the good form of his Sydney Roosters league team in the NRL and the uncertainty when they would finish their campaign.
“So they (the board) have decided in their wisdom to get rid of that (grey area) like they did with Luke McAllister when he came back,” Hansen told Radio Sport.
“The reasons we want to take him on the end of year tour is because there are very limited test matches between now and the World Cup.
“If he was to be in a successful Chiefs side next year and they were playing in the final, for example, then he wouldn’t be available for some of those test matches.”
Hansen said it was more about getting Williams familiar with the All Blacks systems again.
Williams played 19 tests for the All Blacks – seven off the bench – between 2010 and 2012, including the 2011 World Cup success.
If his test opportunities were compromised by Super Rugby next year, “it becomes difficult then to get him back into the ways of the All Blacks”.
“Not so much back in the ways of rugby, because I think he will pick that up very quickly… he has all of Super Rugby to do that, but it’s getting back into the way we do things which is subtly different – we have seen that with all the players.”
Hansen said what involvement Williams would have on the end of year tour would depend on his fitness.
“We don’t know what physical shape he will be in. He may come on the tour and not play any games, he may play, we’ll have to see.”
Hansen felt Williams deserved an exemption because of his commitment to return to New Zealand.
“He is coming back, he’s not leaving. You have a quality, world class player at your disposal.
“Our job is to pick the best team … he is going to be one of the best players so you pick him.”
Hansen expected Williams to make the transition back to the 15-man game “very quickly”.
He said Brad Thorn had proven that in similar circumstances, playing league again after an introduction to rugby and then returning to rugby to become a very good player.
Williams now had an understanding of rugby that would make things far easier this time around.
Hansen said he had already had “a couple of conversations” with Williams who was “excited and desperate” about coming back.
Williams would provide midfield options for the All Blacks, particularly at second five where there were having problems in their current campaign in the Rugby Championship.
First choice Ma’a Nonu was battling a shoulder injury and Ryan Crotty was out with a facial fracture after the first two tests against the Wallabies.
With Dan Carter also out with a leg fracture, Hansen indicated Malakai Fekitoa would have to step into the No 12 jersey if Nonu wasn’t ready as expected for the next challenge against Argentina.
Hansen said the mini-crisis in the midfield emphasised what he had told several young players who had decided to move overseas early in their careers – a couple of injuries could quickly change circumstances.
Hansen said after the remarkable win over the Wallabies, the All Blacks had quickly switched attention to Argentina for the test in Napier on 6 September.
Analyst Aussie McLean had already done his reconnaissance on the Pumas and this was being presented to the All Blacks management to formulate a game plan.
Hansen was clearly still buoyed by the 51-20 win over the Wallabies at Eden Park last Saturday, though he didn’t rate it the best victory of his time as head coach.
He felt last year’s 38-27 triumph over the Springboks in Johannesburg ahead of it because “it was away from home, at altitude against a side that played very well”.
Looking forward to Sbw returning..he amps a game of rugby… 😎
Nonu, Crotty & Sonny at 12, great depth. That guy who played in the midfield for the Bokke against the Argies where did HM find him
?
@ NZINCHINA:
Hi China… Fekitoa isn’t too bad either
.if he given that pass to Richie or Cruden when Barett ran from their try line would’ve given more confidence in him…but he has potential.
Sbw wants to be back in the Abs environment..he believes it to be the most professional outfit he has been involved with… Crotty is an excellent player and I’m tempted to take him too… very consistent…Ma’a is no1 in the world .. is a x factor player… Hansen is filling in the jigsaw
@ Te Rangatira:
Yip all good out wide, we just need another young guy to come through at 2 and have back up for Read and we’re set. Hansen is building superbly for next year, if I can get it past the wife I might he’d up there for the final 😉
“Head up”
4 @ NZINCHINA:
Judging by your record in World Cups away from NZ, I would suggest you buy your tickets up and to the semi Noodles.
Nothing more stupid looking than a bunch of fellows in black jerseys trying to flog their final tickets outside the stadium to the fans of the two teams who are competing in the final. 😉
@ nortierd:
That’s why it’s history Norty, once we take the cup on foreign soil what will they say then 😛
NZINCHINA wrote:
What would I say?
Probably “c’mon kids, put that Playstation away now, time for supper”
😆
@ nortierd:
You’ll have just finished watching the playoff for 3rd & 4 the place
9 @ NZINCHINA:
Ha ha
I do think we will beat the All Blacks in that match though….remember ’99?
I think the AB’s switch off when it’s not the proper final 😉
@ nortierd:
Hahahaha remember that.
Noodles was probably one of those big talkers who thought he’d “head up for the final”.
😆
gunther wrote:
Didn’t those two planes cross each other somewhere over the ocean?
On the one the returning All Blacks and on the other the excited supporters heading for the final 😆
12 @ nortierd:
Yeah, by now they should be pretty good at re-corking Champagne bottles, by hand.
Would be interested to hear how they do it, those freegin corks are moooosa big for that little opening…
13 @ grootblousmile:
14 @ nortierd:
We could of course find out from Sharks supporters too, they have been very good at it since 2007 already!!
grootblousmile wrote:
16 @ nortierd:
It was a good PUB Night last night here on R-T, hey!
@ grootblousmile:
I don’t think the kiwis managed to get the corks back in.
All they ended up with was sour grape juice.
😆
I have to be off for a hair cut… looking way scruffy at the moment, have postponed it for long enough now.
Chat later!
I thought that post might hook a few of the little fish around here 😛
Funny guy have you started your rain dance for the Wellington test yet?
grootblousmile wrote:
Last night was great fun.
Weekly thread in the pipeline?
@ NZINCHINA:
Noodles, don’t buy tickets yet, I put up a thread for you and the Kiwis on how you can win tickets. 😆
while you pricks are getting all excited with your mutual masturbation………….
aren’t you talking about the wrong year …… ’99?
2007 surely?
@ nortierd:
That’s right help him save his shekels.
😆
@ Charo:
Have you been drinking Charo?
@ NZINCHINA:
couple of cups of tea ….
why?
@ Charo:
It was a bit early to be talking about masturbation, as you were.
@ NZINCHINA:
says our resident househusband
@ Charo:
We beat NZ in the 3rd and 4th place playoff in 1999
@ Charo:
I’m not sure where that came from but spending most days with your little girls is the best job in the world! Back to the rugby I’ve noted your observation re the Argie scrum so that is going to very interesting first up there but the big question is how did the Argies dominate for such long periods in all other facets of the game, HM must be a worried man.
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