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International Test Matches
Spring Tour:New Zealand vs Ireland - 1st Test. (09/06/2012, 08:35 GMT)
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<blockquote data-quote="nickdnz" data-source="post: 510101" data-attributes="member: 38640"><p>Some good points there admartian, I have some similar sentiments.</p><p></p><p>Do I think he is overrated? Yeah, he is. The problem is that he has so much hype surrounding him that I think it would be very difficult for him not to be. He's constantly compared to players in terms of impact like Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter and Jonah Lomu, and those guys are probably the best <strong>ever </strong>in their positions. When before a match he is the first player mentioned by commentators and subject to constant media articles, it's very difficult not to think "Okay, calm down. He's good but not <strong>that </strong>important", and what makes it more frustrating was that he got oppertunities that other players didn't and I think much of that is to do with the hype.</p><p></p><p>That being said I think this has negatives as well. As you can see by some of the Irish responses, the term underwhelmed has been thrown around. He's talked up so much, that it would be very hard for even his most die hard fan to say he performed to his expectations. In his last game I thought he played pretty well. Made some mistakes but he played his part in a team strategy rather than trying to make it "<em>The Sonny Bill Show</em>". Right now I'd say he deserves another start while Nonu rests up, because SBW has been better than Nonu in Super Rugby and for the first time so far I can honestly say his form justifies selection rather than his potential.</p><p></p><p>The NZRU are responsible for signing SBW and offering him what they did in terms of money and oppertunities I still believe is reprehensible, especially to a novice. I think it was foolish they didn't treat Luke McAlister and give him more oppertunities (despite his tantrum) as I believe he has as much if not more potential than SBW and can cover 1st 5/8th, a position we were short on during the RWC. That money also would have been more wisely spent getting Nick Evans to come back, seeing as he was probably the second best 1st 5/8th in the world behind Carter and again would have been vital during a RWC.</p><p></p><p>That being said, Sonny Bill Williams hasn't yet given me a real reason to dislike him. He hasn't gotten naked and punched a 60 year old man in Rarotonga or anything like that. He's taken advantage of the NZRU's weakness by boxing without hurting his career and so far he hasn't left overseas. I don't like the lack of commitment he seems to have for the All Blacks but if he stays for another two seasons or so, or better yet the next RWC, I think critics will have to suck it up and say they were wrong. That being said, I'm still far from convinced that is going to happen.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="nickdnz, post: 510101, member: 38640"] Some good points there admartian, I have some similar sentiments. Do I think he is overrated? Yeah, he is. The problem is that he has so much hype surrounding him that I think it would be very difficult for him not to be. He's constantly compared to players in terms of impact like Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter and Jonah Lomu, and those guys are probably the best [B]ever [/B]in their positions. When before a match he is the first player mentioned by commentators and subject to constant media articles, it's very difficult not to think "Okay, calm down. He's good but not [B]that [/B]important", and what makes it more frustrating was that he got oppertunities that other players didn't and I think much of that is to do with the hype. That being said I think this has negatives as well. As you can see by some of the Irish responses, the term underwhelmed has been thrown around. He's talked up so much, that it would be very hard for even his most die hard fan to say he performed to his expectations. In his last game I thought he played pretty well. Made some mistakes but he played his part in a team strategy rather than trying to make it "[I]The Sonny Bill Show[/I]". Right now I'd say he deserves another start while Nonu rests up, because SBW has been better than Nonu in Super Rugby and for the first time so far I can honestly say his form justifies selection rather than his potential. The NZRU are responsible for signing SBW and offering him what they did in terms of money and oppertunities I still believe is reprehensible, especially to a novice. I think it was foolish they didn't treat Luke McAlister and give him more oppertunities (despite his tantrum) as I believe he has as much if not more potential than SBW and can cover 1st 5/8th, a position we were short on during the RWC. That money also would have been more wisely spent getting Nick Evans to come back, seeing as he was probably the second best 1st 5/8th in the world behind Carter and again would have been vital during a RWC. That being said, Sonny Bill Williams hasn't yet given me a real reason to dislike him. He hasn't gotten naked and punched a 60 year old man in Rarotonga or anything like that. He's taken advantage of the NZRU's weakness by boxing without hurting his career and so far he hasn't left overseas. I don't like the lack of commitment he seems to have for the All Blacks but if he stays for another two seasons or so, or better yet the next RWC, I think critics will have to suck it up and say they were wrong. That being said, I'm still far from convinced that is going to happen. [/QUOTE]
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Spring Tour:New Zealand vs Ireland - 1st Test. (09/06/2012, 08:35 GMT)
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