Sonny Bill

[Bon]

I doubt Hansen will wait around as Henry did. Plus the system will turn up another in time. And for my money Nonu is still the better test player.

 

[cyclopath]

I doubt Hansen will wait around as Henry did. Plus the system will turn up another in time. And for my money Nonu is still the better test player.

Which one shoulder-charges tackles better though?

 

[wamberal]

I doubt Hansen will wait around as Henry did. Plus the system will turn up another in time. And for my money Nonu is still the better test player.

I am always amazed when people talk about SBW as though he was just another player. He is not, he is a huge drawcard. Sadly, in these days of rampant commercialism in sport, that is why the NZRU will fall over themselves to sign him.

 

[Muglair]

I don't think he would be any good at Sevens.

I am interested to see just how easily all of the XV stars are going to adapt to 7s in an Olympic Year. How will it be managed as there will probably be a need for a significant number of players to take time out from Super Rugby.

It will be interesting to see if a real power athlete like SBW adapts to an endurance game like 7s. I suspect he might not be the only star to get a rude surprise.

I hope that delaying his return a year is not a mistake. It maybe a little harder to adapt back to the complexities of rugby in just one season. He was only just really getting right on top of it in his season at the Chiefs.

 

[Zander]

XV players might have the skills for 7s but they won't be conditioned for it. Yes even the fittest XV players around would struggle in 7s I reckon

 

[Bullrush]

XV players might have the skills for 7s but they won't be conditioned for it. Yes even the fittest XV players around would struggle in 7s I reckon

Gordon Tietjens will have that sorted pretty quick. SBW would be devastating in 7's. How hard is he to stop one-on-one and with all that space AND his off-load. 7s players know all about support play....he'd be a huge asset for Tietjens and the 7s squad.

 

[wamberal]

Gordon Tietjens will have that sorted pretty quick. SBW would be devastating in 7's. How hard is he to stop one-on-one and with all that space AND his off-load. 7s players know all about support play..he'd be a huge asset for Tietjens and the 7s squad.

SBW would be good, if he is able to get his fitness levels right for Sevens. I think he might have to fine down a little bit. But, as you say, Tietjens would have his plans - with or without $BW.

 

[Zander]

Gordon Tietjens will have that sorted pretty quick. SBW would be devastating in 7's. How hard is he to stop one-on-one and with all that space AND his off-load. 7s players know all about support play..he'd be a huge asset for Tietjens and the 7s squad.

I don't think he has enough top end pace. Folau would do better.

 

[No4918]

He can't stay out of the news for two days.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-13/sonny-bill-confirms-return-to-rugby-in-2015/5019102

 

[nugget]

if he didn't make the all blacks in 2014, could he come back here to play for an oz team and be eligible to play for he wallabies at the WC? Imagine the uproar!

 

[cyclopath]

if he didn't make the all blacks in 2014, could he come back here to play for an oz team and be eligible to play for he wallabies at the WC? Imagine the uproar!

Um, no he can't.

 

[nugget]

Um, no he can't.

why not, he's got an aussie grandmother:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/news/2481395/Eligible-Sonny-Bill-admits-hes-a-bit-Aussie

he can.

 

[No4918]

No, he can't. See rule 8.2. Then punish yourself for doubting Cyclo by reading the next 18 pages.

http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/regulations/04/23/28/42328_pdf.pdf

 

[nugget]

No, he can't. See rule 8.2. Then punish yourself by reading the next 18 pages for doubting Cyclo.

http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/regulations/04/23/28/42328_pdf.pdf

ergh, rule 4. Surely we can get that changed. Just want to annoy kiwi's that's all.

 

[Dan54]

Naa ya can't change those bloody rules or you will be have jokers like QC (Quade Cooper) and JOC (James O'Connor) thinking they could be eligible for ABs!!!!!

 

[ChargerWA]

Gotta admire the balls on the bloke. If he is confident he can walk back into the AB's after 1 year back in Rugby then good on him.

But it proves his heart is in Rugby and realises the depth to the game internationally compared to League.

Also proves the Roosters came up with a shit wad of cash to keep him.

 

[TOCC]

I think he handled the whole thing very well, he has said from the start he won't make a decision on his future until the end of the season, and true to his word he did and informed NZRU that he wouldn't be joining them before releasing it publicly.

 

[Bullrush]

I don't think he has enough top end pace. Folau would do better.

You can still be a devastating player without the top-end pace. There are plenty of guys playing who aren't out-and-out speedsters.

 

[Zander]

You can still be a devastating player without the top-end pace. There are plenty of guys playing who aren't out-and-out speedsters.

They are breakdown skilled.

 

[wamberal]

Gotta admire the balls on the bloke. If he is confident he can walk back into the AB's after 1 year back in Rugby then good on him.

But it proves his heart is in Rugby and realises the depth to the game internationally compared to League.

Also proves the Roosters came up with a shit wad of cash to keep him.

All it proves is that he is for sale to the highest bidder. The highest bid, based on money plus satisfaction for his huge ego. Rugby. Boxing. Loig. Who cares? He obviously doesn't.


A player who could represent the ABs but chooses not to, does not have his heart in rugby.