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The sorry stats which show why Sonny Bill Williams is such a broken man
No wonder he’s been nicknamed “Mothballs” Williams.
Getting to see Sonny Bill Williams has turned into rugby’s version of Loch Ness Monster sightings.
The All Black midfielder is in line for a rare outing in Saturday’s battle with the Springboks.
SBW is a World Cup titan, the only All Black to have figured in all 14 games during the 2011 and 2015 tournaments.
The giant No 12 managed to lift the Webb Ellis trophy four years ago without breaking anything but since then he’s become a one man hospital ward.
As a result, the former league star has played a mere 37 games of XVs rugby since the glorious Twickenham final, partly because of his ill-fated sevens switch in 2016.
This XVs total includes 18 tests, 18 Super Rugby games for the Blues, and one match – his last – involving 50-odd minutes for Ponsonby over three weeks ago.
It’s a dreadful return for New Zealand Rugby, who had to dig deep into the war chest to keep him from overseas offers.
Reliable reports about the size of his contract are hard to find. But his current three year deal would probably crack the $2m mark.
And even his rare appearances since 2015 have been filled with problems including an Olympics disaster.
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Williams became the first All Black to be sent off for half a century, a costly moment during the 2017 series against the British and Irish Lions. He’s been yellow carded twice and regularly replaced during tests in that time.
He lasted just half an hour before a shoulder injury forced him off in his last test against England about eight months ago. And four of his rare Super Rugby appearances since 2016 have been off the bench.
It says something for his mana and ability that Williams’ stocks with the All Black selectors remained strong as he notched up the equivalent of two sabbaticals without leaving home. But how long will that faith last?
As for comparisons with other players…it doesn’t make pretty reading for SBW fans.
Since the 2015 World Cup final, iron man lock Sam Whitelock has amassed 91 games in the All Blacks and Crusaders engine room.
One of SBW’s rivals for a test midfield spot, a battered Ryan Crotty, has notched up 86 games despite his constant injury problems.
And for an NRL comparison, the remarkable Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith – who is older than SBW – played 32 games in 2017 alone during the World Cup, State of Origin and NRL.
It all started going wrong for SBW in 2016 when he suffered a horror Achilles injury in the first game of the Olympic sevens tournament.
There was a bad omen as his ambulance driver got lost in Rio, and since then he’s dealt with shoulder, wrist and knee injuries, and even managed to pull a hamstring at an All Black camp.
Not that his breathless suitors are bothered. A Canadian league team and his old Bulldogs NRL club are among those reportedly interested in signing SBW, who turns 34 next week.
Saturday night shapes as a massive moment in the career of a New Zealand sporting icon – any more injury problems and his World Cup hopes could be over.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished here with permission.
Watch – Michael Cheika fronts the media in Brisbane:
Comments on RugbyPass
Eye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
42 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
42 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
42 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
13 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
42 Go to comments