Sonny B W Should Play for the All Blacks

yes i am - which is why I am prepared to accept the man has talent, good looks, many positive attributes, great potential etc etc

we all have those friends who over-extend themselves, who have a tendency to over-promise and under-deliver - after a while, we learn not to trust what they say - doesn't mean we HATE them - we just learn never to rely on them

for me, SBW is a bit like one of those friends. that's why I don't write him off completely. it's just that I think he is unreliable, based on his past actions.

in situations where reliability, commitment, loyalty, staying-power and other old-fashioned/traditional qualities are valued, he is likely to come up short, and be at a disadvantage

I would hazard a guess that a large element of the All Blacks fan-base is quite conservative, and therefore places value on the sorts of qualities mentioned above - such fans may have less respect for other so-called "star" qualities like showmanship, arrogance, individuality, and maverick behaviour.

thus the SBW back-lash we are witnessing now - it's not just the tall-poppy syndrome, although that could be playing a part in it.

Sounds like you are talking about me

I felt for SBW after he left the Bulldogs and got ass raped by them for doing so when they are the people that fucked him over. I do think his new tricks is a little off. Would like to see what happens to him now in the round robin stages of the WC if he does get any time on the field there is no way he will be featuring in the QF, Semi or Finals unless there is injuries ... SUCKS!!

yeah right!

apparently SBW wants to return to league because he is "bored" with rugby union - wtf, dude you've been in rugby union for like 5 minutes - and you are "bored" with it??

seriously, this guy has an attention deficit disorder

5 minutes? Do you mean 5 years?

I think its awesome he has returned to league, he's wasted on Union anyway

well I guess to his fan-boys, the man can do no wrong

Pffft not only did he revolutionise rugby backplay, he also helped you Union fagets win your precious World Cup for you!.......... Want more do you want?

5 years is loads of a professional career for him to commit/waste on Union. SBW is better sooted to league after all and I have a strong preference to seeing him in Kiwis/Warriors/NSW oufits ......rather than the freakin Chiefs ..... and All Blacks bit player. What a disgracefell waste

AS for the fanboys comment, yes wil admit to being an ardent fan. The guy sets out to being the greatest sportsman ever and is doing pretty well so far. Pinnacles of league, Rugby WC medal...I admit I havent seen him box but if hes half as talented at that he could go on to wear major boxing belts as well. So maybe he IS the fkn greatest

err how is it 5 years?

he joined Toulon in July 2008, so I calculate his Union career at only 3.5 years

and yes, how could we have won the Cup without SBW's lovely shoulder charge on his good mate Quade?

nothing like being red-carded within minutes of getting on the field to help the team out

okay, that's a bit mean, he did do a lot of good stuff too, and scored a total of three tries (I think) in the Cup

on one view, it's right to see him being wasted as a "bit" player in the All Blacks; on another view, isn't it entirely fair that he waits until he has developed more of the skills peculiar to Union, before he plays a greater role?

really it's just his ego that doesn't like being on the sidelines

nobody is going to question that he could fit very nicely back into League (provided there is a club that will have him), or his undeniable skills in that code

maybe he could do a bit of Union, a spot of boxing, and a little League, all at the same time? that would suit his dilettante tendencies

I don't actually dislike the man, he has several appealing aspects (ahem) and undeniable athletic skills. he's a talented sportsman. it's just that he's easy to make fun of, and he just doesn't seem quite right upstairs.

but nothing that a few more knocks to the head won't fix

sigh...what a bunch of blatent hatin nonsense

SBW is playing for the Chiefs next season, by the time he reenters the NRL it will have been close to 5 years since he joined Toulon. Saying he has ADD or w/e for only commiting 5 years to the sport is absurd. 5 years is virtually half of most players careers

SBW didnt just do great things directly to help the AB's win the world cup. His rise also meant that vain layabout Nonu finaly pulled his finger out his azz, and imo also improved te games of Smith and even Cory Jane. Considering we won the WC by one point it isnt outrageopus to suggest SBW switching codes was a significant factor in that success

No he doesnt like being on the sidelines, virtually no sportsperson does. The difference with SBW is he knows he will be accepted with open arms elsewhere. Why waste his time with Union anyway, he has a WC winners medal. Thats more than the last 20 years of All Blacks can say

As for him not having much up top, well I dont really know tbh but it wouldnt suprise me. He's an athlete, not an academic. He gets Kodor to front for him and despite what you read in the papers Kodor is a brilliant agent who understands that global sports is fast moving into franchise models and all that "one club-one country-one sport" line of thinking belongs in the 1960's

SBW wants to be the greatest sportsman ever, and he coudnlt do that grinding it out fore the Canterbury Bulldogs and a few tests a year for the Kiwis

He was on the field in the final for 1-2 minutes Maestro, I like SBW but his contribution to us winning the WC was pretty minimal. In the KOs he started on the wing against Argentina and did 2/10s of fuck all, came on for the last few minutes against Aussie and got sin binned about 30 seconds later, then the last minute against France which I suspect was little more than an attempt to keep him happy as tactically it was a terrible move. Sure he looked great in the group stages and non-WC matches but the ABs always do, we got through the WC knock outs in spite of him, not because of him.

He's much better suited to league but I just wish he hadn't joined such a loathsome pack of cunts like the Roosters. Although I suspect he misses the Sydney lifestyle and he will have wanted a glamour club (not Penrith, Cronulla, St George etc) and the Roosters are probably the only club willing to match his wages that he would consider.

Dont really disagree with what you said o0n his direct involvement but you are ignoring the Nonu factor

I dont really know the terminology but its like "squad science" or whatever. A football loon like you should understand that all the cogs matter, especially a massive cog like SBW

SBW is a bit player for a reason......

That reason being he is basically the 2nd best centre in the country, and even then only because the best player improved his game ~ 20% when he arrived on the scene. Was Nonu finally getting his shit together a co-incidence?

tbh I think it grates you Union fags that one of our league boys wandered over to your sport and in a very short timeframe did things that had never been seen on the rugby field before and very nearly smashed his way in to a starting spot on the sports undisputed elite line up

dont take it so hard imo....SBW dominates the fk outta league as well

Nonu is a different beast when he dons the Black Jersey, he has been dominating that shit for the last 3 years. He has been huge on defense the and has adapted his game hugely. He distributes, sets up tries for others and reads the game very well.


What things has SBW done on the rugby field never before seen? 50/50 passing?

SBW is not rugby smart. Not a a hater but he looks lost on the paddock. For someone with his size, power, pace and skill he hasn't adapted well to rugby.

He looked ok with a set piece move but still insists on flicking 50/50 balls. He needs to hit the tackle situation more often and recycle the ball. I can't even recollect his running at the opposition full tit, he kind of slows each time so as a result hasn't had a lot of cannonball runs/breaking the line ala Nonu.
SBW runs too upright/high so is easier to be knocked over/stopped and not break tackles. He is a second five, one of his main jobs is to break tackles.

The argument of SBW being a faster sprinter (which seemed to be a talking point for a while) than Nonu is redundant as you never see SBW in full flight. Also straight line speed is one thing but the ability to be quick whilst changing direction is another and more important asset (something Nonu is very good at).

Something just doesn't add up, SBW was known as a hardman in league yet hasn't transferred any of that to Rugby.

interesting maths there dude .... "WILL HAVE BEEN close to 5 years" is not the same as "actually done 5 years"

also saying "he IS playing for the Chiefs next season" is meaningless when it comes to SBW because he is liable to "change his mind" and break a contract - nothing is certain for him, based on his track-record so far

and "committing" is a strange word to use in relation to SBW - I don't think the word "commit" is in his vocabulary, is it?

he clearly has an ADD attitude to sport eg his parallel boxing career

also in a lot of his interviews he uses "being bored" with something as the sole reason to move on and do something else

and serious question - would an NRL club even let him dabble in his boxing "career" whilst under contract?

wtf...how DARE you challenge me at math, fish

SBW left the Bulldogs mid season 2008, so by the time the 2013 season rolls around it will have been 5 years or near as dammit. Far more accurate than your crappy maths offering of "5 minutes"

So what if he gets bored and whats to try different things, I can relate. I get bored very easily once I feel I have a good grasp on certain tasks. Why shouldnt he back himself to excel at different things?

He has walked out on one club, dosnt look good on the surface but who knows what was goign on. The Bulldogs have a pretty bad track record ie rape allegations etc. Perhaps he just hated it there and didnt feel at home at all in which case leaving is fine. I think people who moan continously about there jobs but refuse to leave are pretty pathetic tbh

I remember when SBW switced codes and you and Dawg and vadz and fishboy all said he wouldnt make it (although fb changed his tune pretty quick when he saw him play)..so I find it pretty funny you are all in denial that he suceeded. He was the number one back up back in the All Blacks and would have waltzed in to any other team. Whats did he need to do? Score 3 tries in the final?

sheesh

well that whole post has to be the biggest puddle of SBW fanboy jizz I have ever seen .... but don't get me wrong, I DO think it's cute the way you are standing behind your man Masty

Well ya.....Im sure that if you loved something that perfect, you would be quick to defend it as well

how you feelin buddy? I see your man got roughed up a bit today ....

Always been a massive SBW fan, the dude has phenomenal talent in both league and union, that goes without debate. But boxing is a different story - after seeing the highlights tonight it reeks of bullshit. I know the heavyweight ranks in NZ are llight but surely he can't be the heavy weight champ.....

If SBW wants to be the NZ heavyweight champ he should fight David Tua, and you heard that here first... I know where my money would be going.

haterz

Its far too early in SBW's boxing career to fight someone as experienced as Tua, hes had like 4 fights and doesnt really even train full time as boxer due to his rugby career. Boxers HAVE to work their way up, standard

Oh yes anyone who doesn't faun over everything he does is a hater.

Then why is he the NZ Heavyweight Champion? He's only had 4 fights as you point out.

His boxing career is pretty much indefensible it's making him into a laughing stock as it's cearly little more than a attempt to placat his ego and make Team SBW as much $ as possible (note I said Team SBW not the man hiself)... The sooner he realises this and gives it up, the better for him as all of NZ is talking about what a joke it is for him to have fought 4 people with no chance of beating him on his path t the NZ Heavyweigth Championship. He's only had 4 fights and doesn't train as a full time boxer as you point out, and yet he's the NZ Heavyweight Champion...

"Yes Sonny you're a real boxer."

The NZ Heavyweight champion title is the problem, not SBW. It's only been defended like 3 or 4 times or something in its history.

His opponents have gotten incrementally better so just don't understand the huge kerfuffle about his boxing career... nobody's saying he's a great boxer but i have nfi how people can call him a joke either.

And so what if he's using it as a means of getting some $$?

........because accord to Jono, who appears to be caught in some sort of 1970's All Blacks time warp.... Ego and Money should have nothing whatsoever to do with professional sport!


Honestly dude...your whole rant there just stinks of hate. The NZ belt is clearly just one of boxings silly little sideshows. Clarence couldnt even take it if he won and probably didnt care, its meaningless


Using the belt situation to have a go at Sonny is just hilarious, and I dont even get your other points. Calling him a laughing stock, questioning his motivation suiggesting it could be OMG ego and money and telling him "to give up" Seriously?

Arguing with the two people who have shown themselves to be utterly blinkered when it comes to the players they adore, I'm out.

ha ha Im not suprised you want to back out, given your position is indefensible. I hope you saw CGW last night, Andrew really stuck all you haterz right in your places

The great kiwi knocking machine is alive and well

So barring Mulligan and you two the rest of the country thinks his boxing career is a farce (about 90% in most polls), keep fighting the good fight.

ok Jono...please be telling us WHY you think its a farce.

It will amuse me to see you attempt to cover up your hating with pseudo logic

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6388727/Sir-Bob-Jones-SBW-Tillman-fight-a-joke

Dude.... Bob Jones. I used to love listenign to his peices on Radio Sport back in the day. But the wine and cigars have caught up with him. Did you know he tipped Shane Cameron to beat Tua?

....and he didnt even watch the fight, cmon

Not saying i agree with EVERYTHING he says, just posted the link to show there are plenty of other opinions out there which are adverse about SBW's boxing career and especially the Tillman fight- it's hardly a minority opinion.....

Of course its not minority, theres loads of morons, haters and most importantly people who dont know anything about boxing

Of course the belt thing is a bit ridiculous....but thats boxing. The thing is though people are using it to demean SBW and coming out with ridiculous things like "he should fight Tua"....like.....wut

Please be explaining why SBW's boxing career is a farce, Im yet to see reasons

Because they put him against n mark nobodies who don't have a hope in hell of beating him then bill it up to be some titanic struggle between Ali and Fraser, then SBW inevitably wins displays fairly average technique that would get him torn to pieces by a good boxer. The exchange leading to Tillman's TKO he's just throwing wildly and not covering himself up anywhere near quick enough after each punch. Good boxers would draw him into a brawl and wait for the inevitable opening to emerge.

I wouldn't include Sir Bob in that though, he is a boxing commentator and historian - knowing a lot about he history of the sport, he is able to put SBW in context

I (more or less) agree with all this

I disagree these are reasons to call his career "a farce"


Working a boxer up through the ranks because he's average and needs more experience is practically Boxing Career Tactics # 1, I distinctl;y remmeber people hating on Tua for the same reasons.

Why on earth would you scupper a fledging boxing career by putting your inexperienced and average charge in with an experienced and skilled fighter?

If Sonny did that....of cousrse he woud lose and then all you cunts will be like "LOOOOL SBW sucks at boxing:"

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/6428496/Sonny-Bill-Williams-finds-rugby-boring-mate

seems fairly obvious he only switched codes to catch some of the "glory" or limelight of the RWC, now that's over, he doesn't want to stick around

Oh no! A sportsman playing for "glory" and "limelight" !!??

Curse that Sonny Bill!......whoever heard of such a thing!

Man finds boring sport boring... THE OUTRAGE! :>

SBW had always said from DAY ONE that he had a childhood dream to play for the ABs, and in the RWC... he fulfilled that dream, now who's to say he shouldn't return to the game that he's naturally better at and enjoys to play more?

The tall-poppy attitude against SBW makes me sick!

this SBW circle-jerk makes me sick

SBW "had a childhood dream to play for the ABs"

yes he sure did - just like a little kid having a dream to ride a really big, exciting roller-coaster, now he's "been there, done that," he moves on to the next ride in the amusement park

And what is the problem with that?

Obviously nothing. Just like there nothing wrong with the kid who wants to try out the next ride at the amusement park. Dont expect SBW haters to make sense.

well I have to grant him this - his first try in a Chiefs jersey was a pretty impressive one

Where have you been, hes been briliant for the Chiefs all season