He floats, he stings, he’s Sonny B – the greatest

from a somewhat humiliating scoreline.

Hansen once said of SBW: ‘‘He’s a bit like Muhammad Ali. He’s a freakish athlete and could become one of the very best we’ve ever had.’’

It was Sonny Bill’s little float pass that created the space for Victor Vito’s first try. It was Sonny Bill who smashed over the gain line, dragging three defenders to him before slipping the ball out of the back of the hand for Malakai Fekitoa to score. It was Sonny Bill who picked up TJ Perenara’s grubber and instantly slid the ball on to create the momentum for the try that ended the first half.

And he did all these things without the guiding rod of the two Aarons. Cruden has been missing for a while, but it was noticeable how much more ponderous the All Blacks were without the zip of Aaron Smith at half back. He is the oil in the machine. Without him the All Blacks were clunky, but SBW was still able to get them on the front foot.

There is no doubt that he will play in the later stages of the tournament because Hansen prefers to treat his second-five as almost a tight forward. He demands an explosive 50 or 60 minutes and then brings on the replacement. In a couple of recent games Nonu has not even made the 50 minute mark.

The defence for keeping Nonu and Conrad Smith together is one of trust. But how long do you keep the faith before you go blind? Many All Blacks supporters will remember Jesse Kriel splitting them on the angle at Ellis Park a couple of months ago. Nonu has also been smartly substituted on occasion when he has wasted possession with a couple of kicks.

Of course he did not receive the same level of abuse as SBW did when he fired away a hopeless kick. Immediately SBW was characterised as a leaguie who didn’t know the game. His problems with concussion and injury were ignored because it was more fun to run him down.

Nonu has managed to hang onto his reputation, but many of his big games in recent months have come at home. He was superb at Eden Park against the Australians. He had a fine season after coming back to the Hurricanes. But at this point in time, who would you rather have, who would Dan Carter rather have, in a series of knockout matches in a hostile environment?

The walls close in at World Cups. Already England have opted to bring in Sam Burgess, their less-modified version of SBW, for the big game against Wales. They want his physical presence. Hansen is already finding that SBW, coming in on very tight angles, is getting him more momentum than Nonu.

The New Zealand coach will also have noticed that it was SBW who cut down Namibia’s full back when he intercepted Beauden Barrett’s cross kick. It was another challenge.

Four years ago SBW felt he had been lied to ahead of the World Cup. Whatever the rights or wrongs of his view, he has stood by Hansen, whom he trusts. He even stayed on tour last year, not returning home for the birth of his first child.

In the opening match of that tour SBW had a big game against the United States. The critics could argue that, like Namibia, the States were not much of a challenge. But Hansen took note and picked SBW for the big match of the tour against England at Twickenham. SBW was one of the best players on the pitch that day.

Hansen has not been afraid of the big calls. This could be the biggest of his career. Picking SBW for the quarterfinal may well polarise the fans back home, but this looks like SBW’s time, the year of the centaur.