Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Sonny Bill Williams finishes off a slick team try from Canterbury

Monday, September 20, 2010

Sonny Bill Williams finishes off a slick team try from Canterbury

Canterbury were upset 31-20 by Taranaki in the ITM Cup on the weekend as the hosts scored five tries to two in a gritty performance of which they were deserving winners. Some fantastic tries were scored in the game, with this probably the pick of them.

It was Taranaki’s 14th win over Canterbury in 57 meetings, and while the visitors should have stayed in control while up 20-19, they coughed up a few needless tries and let things slip.

Ben Souness and Kurt Baker both crossed for neatly taken tries, while Sonny Bill Williams, as good as he was with ball in hand, failed to control two loose balls which allowed Taranaki to pounce.

While his game is still far from perfect, it’s clearly visible that each week he plays, Williams is looking more likely to be a contender for an end of year tour slot with the All Blacks.

"I think he's shown that he's a good athlete. He's got some real good skills in some areas of the game. His offloading has been pretty special. And he's also shown he hasn't played a huge amount of rugby, so he's got some potential to develop even further," said New Zealand coach Graeme Henry of the league convert.

The making of this try didn’t have much to do with Sonny Bill though, as he simply got on the end of a superb passing sequence from his side that they started in their own half. Sam Monaghan, Matt Todd, Stephen Brett, and Andy Ellis all combined to dazzle the Taranaki defence before getting the ball to the supporting Williams.

The other tries from the game will be featured as part of the ITM Cup highlights package later in the week, but for now here’s this standout effort from a highly talented group of players.

Time: 01:55

Brilliant support play!

Quick hands and great trust in their teammates :)

Was hoping it wouldn't be SBW to finish off but instead be a part of the linking play work for some reason lol

By Philip, at September 20, 2010 11:17 am
the passing, support play, confidence and awareness of all the players involved is superb !! :D

By Luxi, at September 20, 2010 12:17 pm
Straight off the training paddock!!!

By Alexander, at September 20, 2010 1:22 pm
lovely run-around by red 'n' black number 10 to change direction of attack to centre of park...magic try...

Well done to Taranaki though - where are they based as a team?

By NiWiTa, at September 20, 2010 1:35 pm
great try, great continuity and great use of the ref to disguise the ball too!

By mise, at September 20, 2010 2:25 pm
Well done!
great team try

By Anonymous, at September 20, 2010 4:09 pm
Two things:
1) Great try - slick hands and some awesome lines cut especially in final 3 or 4 passes
2) How ridiculous are SBW arms in that photo? Did he steal them off Jerry Collins while they were at Toulon together?

By Anonymous, at September 20, 2010 6:16 pm
SBW lookn good diffently gunna be on the tour to UK SBW ALL BLACKS SUPER SUB got a great ring to it already can smell the fear,lol.

By Anonymous, at September 20, 2010 7:17 pm
Brilliant support rugby.

A couple observations though.

Isn't it a bit unfair, at least odd, that Sonny Bill Williams, as soon as he gets to New Zealand, is in the middle of strong talking about him being called to the All Blacks, Graham Henry talking about him, and the media almost putting pressure on the AB coaching staff to include him in the national set up, while there are some really commited youngsters and players in NZ, like Brett, Slade, Cruden, Baker, and many, many more I'm missing that have to wait to get noticed?

SBW has been in the middle of some big scandals and has shown no commitment neither to New Zealand, the All Blakck or Union.

So I think we are hyping this guy a little too much. He has yet to show that he deserves to wear the Black jersey, in my opinion.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

By Juggernauter, at September 20, 2010 8:26 pm
right thats it sonny is one on the plane up north

thats is all he had to do to win over the already eager all black coaches

By rosh, at September 20, 2010 8:51 pm
number 10 and 21 where the key players on this

By Anonymous, at September 20, 2010 8:55 pm
Ah, and I forgot... How gay do those tight shirts make the Canterbury players look? Come on guys, get some your size. It's okay they are stretch to ensure no shirt-tackling, but come on...

Taranaki's jersey is great. Old school look and old school neck.

By Juggernauter, at September 20, 2010 9:58 pm
@NiWiTa. I'm fairly sure Taranaki play out of New Plymouth and come under the Hurricanes umbrella when everything goes Super 15

By Anonymous, at September 20, 2010 10:04 pm
@Juggernaute Cant you just appreciate a great try finished off by an exciting and obviously talented player?

If Henry decideds to take him on the end of year tour, then that's what he will do and all that complaining won't change it....

And what's the point of comparing SBW and Baker? Totally different players, positions and skill sets.

I would feel more sorry for someone like Luke McAlister.... NZRU begged him to come back, threw him in the deep end and now it looks like he won't even make the cup squad.

By Da Dum, at September 21, 2010 12:58 am
the all blacks are looking good at the moment but as inevitably happens everyone else raises their games come world cup time. this is the reason why we need sonny bill and ranger in our world cup squads, they have that real x factor that will break a game open for us when it starts getting tight.

By Anonymous, at September 21, 2010 7:16 am
I agree with what you say juggernauter. I think it is a little unfair for SBW to sign a contract for NZ Rugby until the end of the RWC 2011, then when its all over jump on a plane somewhere else.

There are a lot of talented players in NZ committed to NZ rugby, I think any player in line to miss out because of SBW has the right to feel hard done by.

Just my opinion

By Anonymous, at September 21, 2010 11:46 am
SBW isn't so spectacular but he's got really useful skills and a good physical impact. Lastyear in toulon you never saw him break through defences and play in the the open space, but everytime he gets the ball he mobilizes 2 or 3 players and then succeed some really nice offloads. Many toulon's tries came from him that way.
Henry has to talk about him because he came back to new zeland only for the blacks, he put aside loads of money to play for NZRFU.

By Anonymous, at September 21, 2010 12:16 pm
Thanks @anon re Taranaki answer. I guess @Juggernauter has a fair point. I know SBW is a powerful player with bags of talent but there is a lot of press about him...Will his physical presence and off-loading skills make up for a potential lack of kicking game and strategic nouse that someone like McAlister has...

I guess the answer is who cares when he has 3 opposition players hanging off him and creates space for everyone else!

Question for me is what is his defence like outwith Rugby League?

By NiWiTa, at September 21, 2010 2:16 pm
Re: McAlister, he just isn't the same player after he went North, his form is still back to where it once was. In 2007 he was an automatic selection in any ABs side, he was one of the best second-fives in the world. In 2010? Will likely find himself well behind Nonu and now likely SBW.

And I say this as someone who is a big McAlister fan, I think on his best day he's the complete package at #12.

By Anonymous, at September 21, 2010 10:42 pm
@NiWita and Anon... Luke does have a sweet set of skills and poses everything a good number 12 should have (including a huge kicking game).

I honestly think if Henry took a risk and selected him for the earlier tests against Wales and Ireland (Instead of Stanley) he would have played back into some decent form.

It's a pitty he's playing in a very average North Harbour team where it seems like it would be hard to really shine.

Not to take anything away from Benson Stanley, he played some good rugby with the chance he was given.

By Da Dum, at September 22, 2010 12:52 am
Mccalister hasn't been the same since he came back from the NH.

By Bill, at September 22, 2010 8:09 am