Sonny’s surpassed the hype
31 Jul 2012
JON CARDINELLI says Sonny Bill Williams has become a more rounded player and will trouble the Sharks’ depleted midfield in Saturday’s final.
2011 was the year of the Sonny Bill offload. Backyard games would have seen kids imitating that signature move, a back-of-the-hand pass that ensured the attacking team’s momentum didn’t die with the ball carrier. It was a move that brought Williams and the Crusaders tremendous success in their march towards the Super Rugby final. It was also a move that demanded an astronomical number of column inches in the press.
One year on, and Williams’ offload is no less effective. The difference this year is that his offload is sparingly used and rarely highlighted as the definitive strength of his game.
The Sonny Bill Williams of 2012 is a far more rounded player than the centre who debuted for the Crusaders in 2011. And it is the less glamorous and less imitable side of his game that could floor the Sharks in the upcoming final in Hamilton.
Credit must go to Chiefs coach Dave Rennie and the ethos he has installed since arriving at the franchise. Credit should go to the forwards for embracing that ethos and producing some dominant performances that have allowed the Chiefs backline a platform to excel.
And to say Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden and Williams have excelled as a 9-10-12 combination is an understatement. Cruden has matured as decision maker, and has also played with a physical determination that has belied his size. Kerr-Barlow has been a threat on attack and defence, as has the robust Williams, who doesn’t get enough credit for the way he reads the game or the impact he makes in contact.
Williams was one of the standouts in last Friday’s semi-final battle against the Crusaders. There is always the possibility that he will unleash that trademark offload, but not enough is made of his strength in the tackle and how this compromises the opposition’s defence. He broke the line on just one occasion last Friday, and on the one occasion he unleashed an offload, the Chiefs went on to score.
The hype around the Sonny Bill offload may have died down in 2012, but the rugby fraternity’s obsession with the idea of offloading certainly hasn’t. Indeed, some have pointed to the Sharks’ offloading game as the reason they have surpassed every other South African team in this tournament.
What those people neglect to appreciate, however, is the fact that the Sharks have also dominated the collisions in the matches where their offload count has been high.
It reminds me of a conversation I had with Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer during the three-Test series against England. I asked him about Willem Alberts, who had just come off two strong performances in the first two Tests. It was clear that Alberts was offloading a lot more and thus perpetuating South Africa’s attacking momentum, and so I asked Meyer if it was something Alberts had worked on.
Meyer explained that Alberts was able to offload in those Tests because he had dominated the collisions. He added that players should not become obsessed with the idea of offloading, and that winning the collision should always be the first objective.
In Meyer’s mind, you can’t risk offloading if you aren’t in a strong position, ie well beyond the gainline, to do so.
There were times in 2011 where Williams was guilty of offloading unnecessarily. There were moments when he threw the ball back after he had lost the collision and had been driven backwards in the tackle. Many said the opposition had worked him out, while others accused him of overplaying the tactic.
2012 has witnessed a more powerful and circumspect display. Williams’ performance at the gainline has been a highlight of the Chiefs’ campaign, and his decision making has improved immensely. The Chiefs don’t waste attacking opportunities, and neither does Williams.
Some will call him a glamour boy who is chasing the big payday, or denounce him as an over-hyped player. But on the basis of his performances in the 2012 Super Rugby competition, Williams is already one of the best players in world, and there is as much substance to his game as there is a marketable style.
The odds are against a Sharks victory this weekend. The Chiefs have shown themselves to be an 80-minute team. The forwards will also be fresher than their Sharks counterparts, who recently made their third overseas journey in the space of as many weeks.
The Sharks’ defence will struggle to repel Kerr-Barlow, Cruden and Williams. They’re also down to their third-choice No 12, with Frans Steyn ineligible for selection and Tim Whitehead ruled out with a broken hand.
At the end of the league stage, Steyn showed why he is rated the best inside centre in South Africa. Whitehead has managed to provide a spark that’s been lacking in previous seasons. Those men will certainly be missed.
Meyer Bosman seems likely to fill the void, and while he has the talent and ability to play a Steyn-like game in midfield, he doesn’t have the form or confidence. It is surely something the Chiefs, and particularly that dangerous axis of Cruden and Williams, will look to exploit.
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329 Comments
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31 Jul 2012, 13:45 pm
@Atreides-199:
31 Jul 2012, 13:46 pm
Anyway, i am out, catch ya all later.
31 Jul 2012, 13:49 pm
Hockey girls showering together. I can’t breathe. Help. O dear.
31 Jul 2012, 13:51 pm
All nations cheat where and when they can. Some are better at it than others. The End.
Our hockey crew talked a good talk…but forgot how to walk.
31 Jul 2012, 13:59 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-204:
they be finding it hard to walk after the ***** the Argies gave them.
That was a wasted plane ticket.
Along with our archer who looked like Roseanne Barr.
31 Jul 2012, 13:59 pm
@Atreides-199:
31 Jul 2012, 14:01 pm
@>^..^< katman-203:
I can breathe katman,
but the breaths are deep.
31 Jul 2012, 14:05 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-192: Bakkies got away with the headbutt during the game. He was banned later but should have been carded if one of the three refs were watching.
31 Jul 2012, 14:06 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-205:
Even the boy… i mean girl called Pietie could not stop that massacre.
31 Jul 2012, 14:10 pm
@Robzim-209:
or women cyclists were no better.
I shall be sending them to you for intensive training around the wine routes of D’urban Ville.
31 Jul 2012, 14:11 pm
You’re lucky, Cane. Mine comes in short pants.
31 Jul 2012, 14:26 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-205: Well the male model and his 3 friends didn’t do badly in the rowing A/B semi-finals
Go team SA!
Look, contrary to what SAsCock have been saying, I reckon 5 medals would be a huge achievement. Their 12? *notonyourfuckinglifeandonlyintheirPRbuildup*
31 Jul 2012, 14:27 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-196:
exaclty
@cane-197:
how long ago was that cane? i can also dredge up nz’s blights from yesteryear?
my point was about the last ten years?
@Hurricane-198:
come on hurri, you know our beef was soley with the ref in that game. he was responsible for controlling their bad behaviour.
but yes, that was one game in which the ozzies went out to win at all costs no matter how dirty. but for the most part they play a positive style of rugby which is a lot more enjoyable than what the ab’s dish up.
@Hurricane-200:
so an ‘attempted gouge’ is equal to a gouge is it.
31 Jul 2012, 14:28 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-210:
Does Robzim also cycle in the valley of the Gods? Small world.
31 Jul 2012, 14:29 pm
@gonzo-208:
and thats my point
saffa players, rightly, do get penalised for rule transgressions.
31 Jul 2012, 14:30 pm
@Robzim-209: She is a hockey ‘hall of famer’ – true story. I think she holds a scoring record or two.
31 Jul 2012, 14:33 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-213: @wait for it, wait for it…-213:
An Attempted punch to the face is illegal, maybe this will remind you
http://www.rugbydump.com/2010/07/1531/schalk-burger-alleged-eye-gouge-on-david-pocock
31 Jul 2012, 14:34 pm
besides, it wasn’t even a gouge.
it was correctly desribed as ‘his hands making contact with the face area’
which, incidentally, is exactly what reechie’s hand did when he ‘grabbed’ schalk in the face for throwing the ball away in tri nation 2010.
didn’t see a word said about that during or after or ever….
31 Jul 2012, 14:34 pm
@Robzim-209:
nikita must be crushed
31 Jul 2012, 14:36 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-212:
the point is that a country like south africa should be looking at 20+ medals.
those thieving cnuts at Sascockup should be made to eat their own feces for the rest of time.
Robbo is one of D’urban Ville’s finest sons.
31 Jul 2012, 14:36 pm
@Robzim-209: Not only Pietie Coetzee, but also Dirkie Chamberlain. I sht you not.
31 Jul 2012, 14:38 pm
@Hurricane-217:
wow, hurri
pocock slams the player to ground head first by the head?
and you’re moaning about a punch in retaliation?
which is worse?
31 Jul 2012, 14:39 pm
he’s also interfering with the ball when clearly he had no right to.
31 Jul 2012, 14:40 pm
looks like an elbow to the throat type throttle too
31 Jul 2012, 14:41 pm
Sonny Bill will carve the Sharks open
Between him and Aaran Cruden they will cause havoc
Cruden is extremely deceptive and while the Sharks keep a close eye on SBW he will mesmerize them with his accel
31 Jul 2012, 14:41 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-222:
Hang, i thought you enjoyed the way the Ozzie play.
Fact is like most people think, hands should not go anywhere near the eyes.
Remember when Smit pushed Thorns head into the dirt and thorn got up and made smit his bit.ch.
Retaliation is not allowed, correct?
31 Jul 2012, 14:42 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-210:
Don’t be so hard on them. Cycling is a tough sport- and our team is also still a bit behind the times and must still catch up with the latest technology like the “battery-powered hot pants” that the British women track team will use in an effort to “fire” their bid for Olympic medals.
Our poor team still does normal lycra and has a huge disadvantage as a result.
31 Jul 2012, 14:44 pm
@Sheriff-225:
Spot on.
Alot of people have been looking at SBW lately, forgetting what Cruden can do.
Cruden is a very good runner with good acceleration.
If hes allowed to run, might as well pass the trophy over.
31 Jul 2012, 14:44 pm
but my point is
it should be punished
as should any player who transgreesses the laws
can we say this for nz?
31 Jul 2012, 14:47 pm
@Hurricane-226: is an “accel” some type of wand? i know gunther has one too he’s been dying to show it to Hermione…
31 Jul 2012, 14:51 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-216: @>^..^< katman-221:
I have just googled Pietie Coetzee- it seams it is her real name, her friends call her “Pieta”. Apparently SA’s best female hockey player ever- i dont have much interest in hockey and probably would not even have known about her if it was not for the name Pietie that draw my attention.
31 Jul 2012, 14:52 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-222:
you know you are farked when you start using Aussies to make your points.
31 Jul 2012, 14:53 pm
Which is the best website to watch the rugby on saturday via live streaming?
31 Jul 2012, 14:53 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-229:
lol
watch again. Burger had a crack at Pococks head first ( 6 seconds in ), tried to rip his ears off. Pocock decided to drive Burger out the way ( ref called through the middle) and fell on him, Burger hated being man handled went for the eyes, simple. Do you not see that?
Anyway, we have been down this road before. You think NZ cheats all the time and the Boks dont.
Bulls play perfect rugby and dont cheat, all the other teams do, do you a pattern here at all?
31 Jul 2012, 14:54 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-232:
lol
31 Jul 2012, 14:55 pm
@Hurricane-228: yep, the dave rennie/cruden combo has a long history, manawatu, baby blacks and now super rugby…i’m sure they’re cooking something up…
if the 10-12 combo plays anything lke they did for the all blacks against ireland, freddie & meyer are in for a torrid time, coetzee too.
31 Jul 2012, 14:56 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-220: I read an article over the weekend, can’t remember where, how or why – BUT: it boils down to the British (read English..) rowing team, spending more than 315 million Rand (equivalent of) in their preparation. Now that is more than what we have spent in development AND preparation, in all codes and disciplines since the prodigal son returned at the Barcefuckinglona Games in 92.
Sadly, these athletes need financial backing, and in SA, it is far more fashionable (and correct on some levels) to donate 5 incubators to the Red Cross Kiddies hospital, than what it is to help Roseanne Barr prepare for her shootout…(she probably has 3 jobs and little practice time with access to zero back room support)
Watching the weightlifting, a country like Mexico has a team of 4 back room peeps for their lifters. Our poor chap is lucky if he gets his skoene paid for.
And then you get a special Sascock moment where they tell an equestrian athlete he is in the team. He gets his colours, fecks off to London, only to be called back to SA because someone else will be competing in his place, as the other fellows horse is better
Tis a Tiny Tim Xmas miracle that we are even there, never mind medals.
31 Jul 2012, 14:57 pm
@Hurricane-228:
The Sharks only hope will be if Michalak can rise to the occasion; he has to stand up
His eccentric and thus quite difficult to know what to expect
His a man for the big occasion so the Chiefs better beware
31 Jul 2012, 15:00 pm
@Robzim-227:
jjjajajaja.
battery operated hot pant.
I sure you have three pairs.
31 Jul 2012, 15:00 pm
@Robzim-231: She retired, came back and honestly is recognised the world over as one of hockey’s finest, ever. I watch here and there, as an old school connection is in the SA team. Our hockey though, is one of the sports that is actually starting to beenfit from sponsorship. I think Investec and Spar throw money into the ladies game.
Our men also suck the short end of the stick on terms of $$$$$$$$$ – and once again, it’s a small miracle that they are even able to compete.
31 Jul 2012, 15:02 pm
@Transformation-236:
Yep exactly.
Actually forgot about how long those two have been playing together.
@Sheriff-238:
Yep, he has grown into the Super rugby SH style quite nicely. Still a bit iffy though.
He sure does need to step up in this game really.
This is going to be an epic battle if both teams play at there full potential.
31 Jul 2012, 15:03 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-232:
@Hurricane-234:
good lawd
is none of what pocock does registering with you?
31 Jul 2012, 15:04 pm
OH well, i am logging, nice talking guys. And Bakkies thats you as well, always a pleasure
31 Jul 2012, 15:04 pm
@Transformation-230:
Indeed.
I want to see her hogwarts.
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-237:
I saw that stat too.
The commnetators at the opening ceremony said the same thing.
Good article by Chris Gibbons in the daily maverick about it.
31 Jul 2012, 15:05 pm
His should be ‘He’s’ in post 238
The thing I admire about Sonny Bill is his ability to pop up in spaces at the right; then he makes the break and when tackled gives the most kind passes to his mates; they literally just have to run into it – his timing is also perfect
He is a bit of a freakish athlete
Cruden has surprised me with his confidence and option taking
31 Jul 2012, 15:06 pm
@wait for it, wait for it…-242:
Yep, he fell on him, like when you guys said Quade Cooper did not kneee richie in the head, he fell on him accidentally.
Anyway read post # 243, have a good day
31 Jul 2012, 15:07 pm
sacock is a case of ineptness and gravytrain’ers
nothing more
nothing less
never would have amounted to anything more
its a shame
saru is a case of a bit of the above as well a group of men knowing better.. a lot better
there’s the real shame
31 Jul 2012, 15:07 pm
they could and should amount to so much more
31 Jul 2012, 15:08 pm
@Hurricane-243:
@Hurricane-246:
cheers and good day to you too, sir
31 Jul 2012, 15:10 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.-237: Couldn’t they pair the good rider with the good horse?
Also, they could have taken two middle distance runners for every one of those archer ladies.
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