SBW brushes off All Blacks ‘too old’ claims

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 SONNY Bill Williams has dared the Wallabies and pundits to write off the ageing All Blacks in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup decider, as Australia seeks to pull off its first series win in 17 years.

The backlash to New Zealand’s 47-26 loss to the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday night has been brutal, with many commentators claiming that the All Blacks’ decade of domiTHE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP Franks, Joe Moody and Ben Smith.

The All Blacks could have up to eight players aged 30 and over in their starting side at Eden Park, while Christian Lealiifano (31), Kurtley Beale (30) and David Pocock (31) would be the only likely starting candidates beyond that age mark for Australia.

Williams, 34, said that the desire among the senior crew to retain the trophy remained as high as ever.

“Australia are coming, we know that, but we’re hungry to keep that Bledisloe as well — so don’t forget that,” Williams said yesterday.

The former NRL star is likely playing his final Bledisloe match and last game at Eden Park, where Australia has not beaten the hosts since 1986, and he brushed off the notion that the Kiwis were too old and too slow.

“Time will tell, I just love that analogy of being where your feet are, that’s what we need to do, whether you’re old, whether it’s your first game, whether it’s your 100th cap,” Williams said.

“We just need to be where our feet are, go out there this weekend and play the way we know we can play.”

The All Blacks have nine players in their wider squad aged 30 and over, while the Wallabies have 10, but most of them are not in contention for starting spots.