'A skilled sailor was never made in smooth waters' Sonny Bill opens up on his battle with injuries ahead of third World Cup
Sonny Bill Williams believes he has the fitness and improved maturity to play a pivotal role in New Zealand’s hunt for a fourth Rugby World Cup triumph.
The star midfielder will be the oldest member of the All Blacks squad in Japan at 34 and is in line to claim an unprecedented hat-trick of winner’s medals, alongside captain Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock.
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Williams’ impact should be greater than in 2011 and 2015.
He played in all 14 matches across the two tournaments but started in just five. Only one of the starts was a knockout game – when he filled in on the wing in a quarter-final against Argentina eight years ago.
But the former NRL star is rated so highly by coach Steve Hansen that he can expect to start all of the looming big Tests at inside centre.
Williams agrees he has matured from the code hopper who boasted attacking x-factor in spades when he took his career from France to Christchurch in 2010.
Packing rugby’s best offload wasn’t enough to win regular selection over retired greats Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu.
“In my younger days it may have been about getting on the highlight reels and making big plays but now I know to be a good team player you don’t have to do that fancy stuff,” Williams told Radio Sport on Sunday.
“Although, when I’m on song that stuff comes naturally. If I can open up space elsewhere by attracting players then I’m doing my job.”
Williams is still to announce his post-World Cup plans but admits a three-year battle with injuries has tested his patience.
Knee surgery and other niggles ruined most of 2019 and a Japan ticket was only confirmed through a compelling display in last month’s 36-0 Bledisloe Cup decider rout of the Wallabies at Eden Park, where he scored his 12th try in 53 Tests.
“Against Australia and in those big games; I thrive on those moments because they are the biggest stages where you can create history.
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“I love those types of moments.”
Even then, Williams was unsure he’d done enough, admitting to anxiously watching a live All Blacks squad naming for the first time.
The tears from his wife and brother upon hearing his name read out brought home the magnitude of his battle with injuries.
“To be honest, it has been really tough and I’ve had to show a lot of resilience,” he said.
“A skilled sailor was never made in smooth waters and I’ve definitely struggled in that respect over the past few years.”
-AAP
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Comments on RugbyPass
Mack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
1 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
2 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
7 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
2 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
16 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
7 Go to comments