Sonny Bill Williams
The Sonny Bill Williams critics have become quiet of late. SBW has silenced them with week-in-week-out performances for the Crusaders; his switch from rugby league forward to rugby inside-centre has been nothing short of incredible.
Last Saturday, Williams was man-of-the-match material in the Crusaders 36-8 win over the Sharks to clinch yet another semi berth. This is the Crusaders 10th semi in succession, and 13th overall, continuing the incredible track record of the most successful franchise in Super Rugby history with seven titles from 16 attempts.
But qualifying this year has been completely different.
The earthquakes that have devastated their home town of Christchurch, have also damaged their home ground, forcing the Crusaders to play all their games away from home.
It’s been a huge effort to be constantly on the road, and only lose four games all tournament.
Now they have another long flight to Cape Town to meet the Stormers that finished on top of our local conference.
McCaw
There’s still no Richie McCaw, the Crusaders’ skipper, and world-class flanker, who is still out with a foot injury. But Kieran Read has done a first-class captaincy job in McCaw’s absence.
Read’s not the only one lifting the side. There have been three other members in red-and-black to step up – Dan Carter, Matt Todd, and Sonny Bill.
Todd is only on standby for McCaw, but he would be an automatic selection in any one of the other 14 franchises. He’s fast, reads the game well, is a solid defender, a ball-runner, and he’s going to be around creating havoc for a long time.
SBW
And then there’s Sonny Bill…
SBW is a big boy – 6ft 3, and 108kgs. But he’s not just big and fast, he has a rugby brain, and the incredible ability to off-load under pressure.
The Stormers already know all about this.
In round 12, the injury-hit Crusaders, with McCaw and Dan Carter among them, won 20-14 in Cape Town, with Williams turning in a blinder to take command of the mid-field.
That was a gutsy win by the Crusaders, and they are a better team now.
Even though the Crusaders have to travel, I believe that Carter, Read, Todd, and Williams will continue to strut their stuff to clinch a place in the final with the table-topping Reds who should account for the Blues in the other semi.
The cream has surfaced with the top four teams after the regulation rounds making the semis. This is what Super Rugby is all about.
