Hansen praises Williams’ sunny disposition
‘‘He is fit, probably as fit as I have seen him – running fit, I am talking about.’’ Steve Hansen on Sonny Bill Williams
Steve Hansen has welcomed back Sonny Bill Williams with a chirpy assessment of a player who no longer allows setbacks to trigger the sulks.
Second five-eighth Williams will play just his second test of the year when he starts for the All Blacks in their Rugby Championship test against Argentina tomorrow.
The Williams you see now is a different model from the one who first waltzed into the All Blacks in late 2010, following a stint with Canterbury in the national provincial competition.
‘‘He has matured as an athlete too. Once upon a time he would have sulked a lot about being injured and not getting games,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘But he has matured into a really good human being.’’
Injuries and the whims of the selectors, whether they get it right or not, are all part of a professional rugby player’s lot.
Williams, 33, knows more than most about how frustrating it can be to deal with injuries. His Super Rugby season with the Blues was compromised, and when he made his comeback for the All Blacks in the third test against France in June he suffered a shoulder injury.
He was named in the reserves to face the Springboks in Wellington for his comeback almost a fortnight ago, but had to withdraw because of tonsilitis.
Hansen reiterated Williams has learned how to cope with disappointments and to contribute to the squad off the park.
‘‘He understands . . . there is no point being down about it, so he is pretty positive. He is a positive person around the environment whilst he is injured, he just gets on with his trainings.
‘‘He has trained really, really hard. He is fit, probably as fit as I have seen him – running fit, I am talking about. We have just got to get him match-fit now.’’
Given his long career in brutal contact sports, it’s hardly surprising Williams is starting to accumulate so many injuries. He made his NRL debut for the Bulldogs in Sydney as a 19-year-old, before moving to play rugby in France and then New Zealand. There was also a brief stint in Japan, a return to the NRL with the Roosters and some heavyweight boxing bouts.
Hansen has made six changes to the run-on side that lost 36-34 to the Springboks in Wellington with Luke Whitelock and Ofa Tuungafasi getting opportunities to start. Shannon Frizell starts in place of injured No 6 Liam Squire.
Halfback TJ Perenara gets a run-on appearance ahead of Aaron Smith as a reward for good form and the fact it’s his 50th cap.
‘‘He deserves to have the No 9 on his back when he goes out to play that [his 50th],’’ Hansen said in reference to Perenara. ‘‘He is a big part of who we are and is one of our leaders. If it was the other way around and ‘Nuggie’ was playing his 50th, he would probably be starting.’’
There has been a reshuffle of the back three, with Jordie Barrett left out of the match-day 23. Ben Smith shifts to fullback to accommodate Waisake Naholo on the right wing.
Hansen hinted this lineup is unlikely to alter much for the final game of the championship against the Boks at Loftus Versfeld.
‘‘We are looking to play two big games in a row, so there shouldn’t too many changes next week either.’’