It’s time for the Blues to click into gear

OPINION: Sonny Bill Williams. Click, click, click.

Type the giant midfielder’s name into a search engine, and sure enough, things start to get rather busy. He’s the ultimate bait for click-hungry websites, all eager to attract traffic from the genuinely interested, bored or the listless.

Let’s forget about Williams’s off-field antics for a while (although we never did received a satisfactory explanation about why he elected to keep NZ Rugby and the Blues in the dark prior to taking the field with a taped-out the bank logo a few weeks back) and just ask what we expect from him when the Blues meet the Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday evening.

Given his late arrival to Super Rugby because of injury, Williams deserved to be granted some time to warm up his big engine.

But now is the time for him to spit out the flames from his exhausts, because the Blues have to start their winning roll now.

They must beat the Stephen Larkham-coached Brumbies, and claim scalps in their remaining seven games throughout the back half of the regular season, to have any chance of doing anything worthwhile in the New Zealand conference.

Barring injury or a complete loss of form, it’s fairly obvious Williams will make the All Blacks squad to face the British and Irish Lions this winter so there’s little point in anyone getting all dramatic and saying he is fighting for his test career.

What we do need to see is him contributing for the Blues, and if the second five-eighth and centre George Moala develop an understanding of how, and when, to hurt the Brumbies we could be in for some compelling viewing.

Given they have lost blindside flanker Jerome Kaino for between four to six weeks (and this could be grim news for the All Blacks) because he requires surgery to repair a meniscus tear his knee, the Blues could do with some good news. Williams can help deliver that.

WAITING GAME

The sooner Lima Sopoaga is back on the paddock, the better. The Highlanders first five-eighth hasn’t played since pinging his hamstring in the round-three match against the Blues, and we are told he isn’t likely to be available until May 13.

That, in turn, has removed one of the favourite Kiwi past-times, debating which first-fives should be included in the first All Blacks squad of the season, from the menu.

At the moment Aaron Cruden is certain to be back-up to Beauden Barrett. We just have not seen enough from Sopoaga to state otherwise.

GEORGIA ON THEIR MINDS

So it looks like Jordie Barrett won’t be available for the NZ under-20 squad that will play in the world championships in Georgia.

Barrett was originally listed as the vice-captain for the Oceania series, but withdrew and will keep doing his thing for the Hurricanes. You can’t begrudge him for making that decision.

But it’s tough on new NZ under-20s coach Craig Philpott, who would love to have a kid of Barrett’s class in his squad.

Given Barrett’s form for the Canes, some are saying he could start against the Lions. Here’s a tip. If you can get one of your mates to agree with that argument, and plonk down some money to back-up their bravado, ask him to double-up. Then get a witness to observe the deal. Chances are you will cash in on that one. You read it here first.

Barrett, who travelled with the All Blacks as an apprentice on their northern tour last year, is in great form. But Super Rugby isn’t test footy, and the All Blacks selectors have Ben Smith, Israel Dagg and Damian McKenzie to choose from. His time will come.

WELCOME BACK

Great to see Charlie Ngatai back just playing rugby after his concussion issues. If he gets back to playing as a pro, watch out. Ngatai was no-nonsense in the Chiefs midfield. Ran hard and straight on attack, and a tough man to get past when on defensive duties.