MAT TALKS

financially wrecked Fonterra. The positive side is that icecream will continue to be made here and the workers will keep their jobs. But how long will this last?

All Black coach Steve Hansen is determined to give Sonny Bill Williams every opportunity to prove his fitness for the upcoming world cup in Japan. After knee surgery, Hansen is confident Williams will be playing in a couple of weeks. The problem is, will the Blues, whom Williams plays for, make the playoffs? There is no doubt the 33-year-old Williams’ rugby days are numbered, and it’s because of his injuries. So will he go as a motivator? The guy has class and is held in high esteem by his fellow All Blacks. According to Hansen, “Sonny has already proved himself. He’s played 51 tests and that’s a lot of proving.” So what Hansen is saying, regardless of his lack of matches recently and injury woes, Sonny Bill will be on that plane to Japan.

Great news for Mangonui rugby, having three teams — Awanui, Eastern and Panguru — contesting the top six in North Zone, which starts this Saturday. Awanui are away to a feisty Kaeo, who have the players to cause an upset. Awanui are playing attractive rugby but they do have a weakness in the tight five. Fix this up, no one will touch them. Eastern should be comfortable winners at home against a battling Panguru. The Hokianga lads, who started with a hiss and a roar, have slipped back and could be in for one hell of a hiding.

On May 1, Te Hiku elected members met with roading infrastructure personnel from the Far North District Council and Northland Transport. Also present was the council chief executive and mayor. The reason, to fix up the unsealed roads. After much discussion, it was agreed that after 21 days’ grace, there will be an improvement. The cut-off date closed yesterday. Let’s now wait and see.

And that’s how Mat sees it.