I see Sonny Bill has come in for a bit of flack on Inv’s earlier post on the likely All Blacks squad for the world cup. That’s not the only place one would have encountered the question “What has he done?!” either. Many have waited in vain to see the pony’s second trick after that off-load.
Some, including Ted & Co keep faith, but I’ve seen enough to mark him a “Fail” and encourage him to get back to League sooner, rather than later. There’s enough evidence from the years following the professionalization of Rugby Union and the influx of money into the game to make a wider statement:
No Rugby League bred player is capable of footing it at the highest level in a Rugby Union playmaking position.
Let’s look at who’s given it a go shall we?
Henry Paul, Iestyn Harris, Mark Gasnier, Andy Farrell, Craig Gower.
All great, game-breaking players in the 13-man code, all failed to achieve anything like that at real rugby. Sure, we’ve seen some fantastically successful League converts but Tuquiri, Robinson and Thorn are not playmakers. It really tells you something when the best one can scratch up as a league convert at 8, 9, 10, 12 or 13 is...Berrick Barnes.
Give it up Sonny Bill, you’re doomed because you started playing the wrong game…same goes for you Shontayne.
4 comments:
Quade Cooper?
Tana Umaga?
Similarly, Christianity was a cult which no one thought would go far, particularly in the Antipodes... but would you look at it now! It is a game winner for the poor and suffering. It's destiny. And it's SBW's destiny to prove that his faith is stronger than others lack of faith.
Interesting observations JS. I thought SBW actualkl had a pretty sound defensive game at the weekend, and he played a role in Kahui's try. The selectors have the challenge of helping him develop more than just the back-flick offload though.
I'm claiming Tana on a technicality, he never played professional League and was 17 or 18 when he started his Union progress and it took him more than ten years to move in from the wing. I think that rather helps the point I'm making.
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