‘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”.
@ nortierd:
The only AB game in recent years I didn’t watch.
31 @ NZINCHINA:
All I really remember from that game is Breyton Paulse scoring a breakaway try from long range.
Don’t think either set of fans were worried about the match to be honest
@ nortierd:
okay.
but 2007 was so bad for the kiwi psyche that they made a documentary about it.
even blackpantie got sucked in to the hype and bought finals tickets……
the kiwi pm visited paris…….
nz tourism had a huge rugby ball as an exhibition……
then some toffee-nosed pommie ref blew it for them.
poops has never recovered.
@ nortierd:
Why do they bother, nobody wants bronze
All Black back line for 2015 RWC Final against The Republic of Eye Gougers: (and that is not France either.)
15. Ben Smith.
14. Julian Savea.
13. Conrad Smith.
12. Maá Nonu.
11. Jane.
10. Barrett.
09. Aaron Smith.
Backs on the Bench.
TJ Parenara, Carter, Sunni-Bill.
(and I have been fair, I have only selected 6 Hurricanes.)
@ Charo:
It’s called passion for the game buddy, it’s very different in SA as you are a soccer nation 😉
@ nortierd:32
mallett bowed to public opinion and brought honibal back for that match.
most reckon he should have played in the semi vs oz but ginger had put over 5 drops in the 1/4 final against england and mallett thought he could do it again against oz.
@ NZINCHINA:
nope…..
known as naive expectation
🙄
@ cane:
Nice Caner, very nice & the 2014 IRB player of the year running the engine room.
@ cane:35
potent all right.
boks only chance is to try to starve them of good ball.
can’t see it happening though.
@ Charo:
I spent a fortune on Counselling after that c#@t Barnsie robbed us.
It did help though, I must admit.
I no longer spit on the ground every time I hear the names Wayne or Barnes..
@ Charo:
Why was it naive, we’d beaten every team that year including the Bokke twice and were clearly the best team in the world? HM wants to be number 1, with his current squad is that a little naive?
@ NZINCHINA:
Very strong lineout now too China.
Once our Achilles heal.
2 good Locks, Jerome, Kieren and Ritchie. 5 options.
37 @ Charo:
Yep, and let’s not even mention his mistake of dropping my favorite Bok captain of all time for the tournament.
So much good work through the previous 2 years, only for Mallett to be swayed by Solly, and the rest is history
@ Charo:
Boks will be as good a chance as anyone else Charo.
Never under estimate the crucial factors…………………………………Luck/The Draw/Referees.
I think England will be a huge chance.
I was very impressed with them when they were here earlier in the year.
@ cane:45
yep, poms are going to be competitive since it will be on home soil.
i am going over for the tournament but don’t know which games i’ll watch.
too expensive to stay for the full 6 weeks.
@ Charo:
Enjoy Charo.
We will all envy you.
😉
nortierd wrote:
Of course they wouldn’t be worried, knowing that they’d be watching your two favourite teams two days later.
48 @ BrumbiesBoy:
Aussies had a good team that tournament.
France was a disgrace, as usual, eye gouging and getting seriously smashed on the scoreboard.
Still the most one sided final in the history of the WC.
Hi Chaps
Just a quick pop in. Just seen we won the toss and fielded first. We are probably the only country in the world that would give up the best batting conditions to bat last. I think another reason why AB is not Test Captain… Even if we go on and win, it is a very strange decision…
Anyways back to rugby… 😆
@ Gumboots:
Think Aus got 320 odd?
@ Gumboots:
He was probably talking to the commentary team who all thought we should bowl first.
I see Gary is there too.
I’m sure he he had his two cents.
😆
@ nortierd:
I think three hundred was probably par on this ground.
This convicts might regret not picking a frontline spinner.
Maybe.
@ gunther:
See Amla just lost his wicket
@ nortierd:
Long hop straight to point.
😯
@ Charo
A million rand for a pint in the West End.
@ cane:
Yip that’s how the Bokke sneaked a year in 09′ we didn’t have a line out, when we get parity at set piece they are goosed. 😀
Well if the Ball Sacks make the final next year how will everyone else in London get a drink?
There won’t be any barman left to serve them.
😆
@ NZINCHINA:
I’d love to get to the WC…but I can’t get much time off…one week max…won’t go all that way for 5 days…too much of a lottery re: finals.
@ NZINCHINA:
Only poofs and kiwis go to the west end these days.
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