SBW set to sign for......
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<p>As much as i would love to have him at the Chiefs, i think it's good he's going to the Blues. They've been a basket case for ages, and it's good to have a star player choose to go there, some others might follow. </p>
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<p>And the Chiefs don't really need him. It would be beneficial for NZ rugby if he joined the Blues.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wurzel" data-cid="584339" data-time="1464683917">
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<p>Would he get picked over the human highlight reel that his Piers Francis? Tough call for Tana.</p>
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<p>Lol to be fair to Francis he's been better than I thought, maybe due to the low expectations I had of him but yes, Tana's bound to lose sleep over this dilema.</p> -
Great to have SBW commit to NZ Rugby. He was superb throughout the 2015 RWC and proved lots of doubters including myself wrong. The Charlie Lines incident and his work with UNICEF in Lebanon give him a media profile way beyond New Zealand and established Rugby fans. I'm sure he could have got a lot more money in NRL, France or English Club Rugby.<br><br>
I know some Chief fans will be disappointed he's off to the Blues, especially after his "I'll come back to the Chiefs and play for free" comments. Obviosuly being with the Blues suits him now personally and he thinks Tana Umaga is the coach to help him achieving his personal goals at the moment.<br><br>
Competition for the All Blacks 12 jersey is going to be fierce. Hansen has described SBW, as along with Gareth Thomas, as one of the two best athletes he's worked with as athletes. Ngati and Crotty are getting better and better and Jordie Barrett looks like an exciting prospect.<br><br>
SBW is one of those players (Martin Johnson and Michael Jones were others) whose athleticism you appreciate a helluva more watching them at the stadium than on TV. His passing skills in contact and vision awareness are sublime. Hopefully lots of Auckland-based Blues fans will take the opportunity to see a world class player in action for their team and lots of seats in Eden Park will be filled. Exciting times. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="584346" data-time="1464686871">
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<p>If true that 10 spot really is the last massive issue they have to solve. Sure they can upgrade a few positions still but that 10 role is vital.</p>
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<p>No idea how hard they tried ,maybe they did, but they should have thrown a lot at DMac, promising him the 10 jersey , </p>
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<p>He has made it known that 10 is the position he wants to play </p> -
<p>A backline of 9. Pulu 10. West 11. Moala 12. SBW 13. Ioane 14. Ranger 15. Nanai would be nearly impossible to stop on a dry night. All the Blues need now is a pack that can consistently get them go forward and an improvement in their defensive structures will surely provide the Blues with a backbone to once again establish themselves as a Super Rugby heavyweight.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="584347" data-time="1464687260">
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<p>Great to have SBW commit to NZ Rugby. He was superb throughout the 2015 RWC and proved lots of doubters including myself wrong. The Charlie Lines incident and his work with UNICEF in Lebanon give him a media profile way beyond New Zealand and established Rugby fans. I'm sure he could have got a lot more money in NRL, France or English Club Rugby.</p>
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<p>I know some Chief fans will be disappointed he's off to the Blues, especially after his "I'll come back to the Chiefs and play for free" comments. Obviosuly being with the Blues suits him now personally and he thinks Tana Umaga is the coach to help him achieving his personal goals at the moment.</p>
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<p>Competition for the All Blacks 12 jersey is going to be fierce. <strong>Hansen has described SBW as along with Gareth Thomas as one of the two best athletes he woke with as athletes</strong>. Ngati and Crotty are getting better and better and Jordie Barrett looks like an exciting prospect.</p>
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<p>SBW is one of those players (Martin Johnson and Michael Jones were others) whose athleticism you appreciate a helluva more watching them at the stadium than on TV. His passing skills in contact and vision awareness are sublime. Hopefully lots of Auckland-based Blues fans will take the opportunity to see a world class player in action for their team and lots of seats in Eden Park will be filled. Exciting times.</p>
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<p>Gay.</p>
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<p>Especially seeing as you mentioned Gareth Thomas in there.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="584358" data-time="1464690440">
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<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="584347" data-time="1464687260">
<p>Great to have SBW commit to NZ Rugby. He was superb throughout the 2015 RWC and proved lots of doubters including myself wrong. The Charlie Lines incident and his work with UNICEF in Lebanon give him a media profile way beyond New Zealand and established Rugby fans. I'm sure he could have got a lot more money in NRL, France or English Club Rugby.<br>
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I know some Chief fans will be disappointed he's off to the Blues, especially after his "I'll come back to the Chiefs and play for free" comments. Obviosuly being with the Blues suits him now personally and he thinks Tana Umaga is the coach to help him achieving his personal goals at the moment.<br>
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Competition for the All Blacks 12 jersey is going to be fierce. Hansen has described SBW as along with Gareth Thomas as one of the two best athletes he worked with as athletes. Ngati and Crotty are getting better and better and Jordie Barrett looks like an exciting prospect.<br>
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SBW is one of those players (Martin Johnson and Michael Jones were others) whose athleticism you appreciate a helluva more watching them at the stadium than on TV. His passing skills in contact and vision awareness are sublime. Hopefully lots of Auckland-based Blues fans will take the opportunity to see a world class player in action for their team and lots of seats in Eden Park will be filled. Exciting times.</p>
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<p>SBW fanboy stuff aside, I'm interested how you view Martin Johnson as a superb "athlete".....great player obviously but to the naked eye looked as nimble and athletic as a bag of spuds.</p> -
I loved watching Martin Johnson play even though he was English. Best I saw him play was a England-Ireland game at Twickenham in 2002 which England won easily. Wilkinson and Greenwood had big games too. Highlight for me was watching Johnson beat up the Irish forwards.<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/1824353.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/1824353.stm</a><br><br>
Johnson could really shift bodies at the breakdown. Think Brad Thorn but possibly a bit better. Also his tackles were big hits, would line up the opponents best players and smack, could turn a game, a bit like Umaga or Kaino I guess. His lineout work was impressive too, great timing of his jumps like John Eales, Ian Jones or Sam Whitelock. Had a thuggish, imposing element about him too which is important in a lock forward.<br><br>
Back on topic, I'm a reluctant SBW fan boy. I never cared much for the circus around him and always rated Nonu as the better player. But I respect his professionalism and he won me over with his performance against Argentina at Wembley in RWC. Argentina were playing well in that game and in a sniff of an upset until SBW came on and took the game away from them. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="584362" data-time="1464691383">
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<p>I loved watching Martin Johnson play even though he was English. Best I saw him play was a England-Ireland game at Twickenham in 2002 which England won easily. Wilkinson and Greenwood had big games too. Highlight for me was watching Johnson beat up the Irish forwards.<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/1824353.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/1824353.stm</a><br><br>
Johnson could really shift bodies at the breakdown. Think Brad Thorn but possibly a bit better. Also his tackles were big hits, would line up the opponents best players and smack, could turn a game, a bit like Umaga or Kaino I guess. His lineout work was impressive too, great timing of his jumps like John Eales, Ian Jones or Sam Whitelock. Had a thuggish, imposing element about him too which is important in a lock forward.<br><br>
Back on topic, I'm a reluctant SBW fan boy. I never cared much for the circus around him and always rated Nonu as the better player. But I respect his professionalism and he won me over with his performance against Argentina at Wembley in RWC. Argentina were playing well in that game and in a sniff of an upset until SBW came on and took the game away from them.</p>
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<p>I don't recall Johnson ever making any big hits when he played, not saying he wasn't an all time great but his partner in crime Danny Grewcock looked a much better "athlete". Unfortunately for his reputation his dirty shit made Troy Flavell look cunning....</p>
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<p>Anyway back on topic before Bones accuses me of living in the past, SBW is back in NZ, the All Blacks are officially saved, I just hope they can scrape through 2016 as best they can.</p> -
<p>is great for the Blues and him, some stability in his career, although I expect anytime he holidays in Sydney the media will speculate about him trying to get out of his contract.</p>
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<p>With a decent period of stability for him, will be interesting if he will now realize his potential and go on to claim the 12 jersey as his own</p>
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<p>Funny some guy on RS this morning was trying to claim he wasn't a professional athlete anymore cos he is always injured in rugby but never was in league...or words to that effect</p>
