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Canterbury's Sonny Bill Williams - Source: Photosport -
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tvnz.co.nz stalks Sonny Bill Williams' every move as he makes the most anticipated debut in New Zealand provincial rugby since, well, ever.
First Half
3min: Ryan Crotty rolls his ankle in the tackle in the opening minutes and Sonny Bill is immediately up from the bench warming-up, but he sits back down soon after when Crotty decides that he is okay to stay on the field.
19min: Crotty can no longer go on and Sonny Bill makes the most long-awaited New Zealand provincial debut since, well, ever.
22min: Sonny Bill receives his first ball from Stephen Brett and bounces a pass to Robbie Fruean on the Bay of Plenty's 40-metre line and sparks an overlap.
28min: Bay of Plenty are hot on attack and Taniela Moa flings a pass only for an opportune Williams, who was possibly in an offside position, to intercept the ball. While he is unceremoniously dumped on the ground, he off-loads immediately to Matt Todd as Canterbury break 50 metres down field. Impressive stuff from SBW.
29min: Sonny Bill receives an inside ball from Brett and makes a half break on the Bay of Plenty 40-metre line. As he is going to ground, he flicks the ball up one-handed to Fruean - a move few rugby players would be capable of. Unfortunately referee Garratt Williamson decides that the ball has travelled forward. Unlucky.
40min: Williams makes his first contributions in defence in the dying minutes of halftime with a half hit on Luke Braid and soon after, an assist in bringing down James McGougan.
Second Half
44min: Isaac Ross charges down a Toby Arnold kick on the BOP 40-metre line and off-loads to an ever-present Williams. He goes on the make a further 10 metres and sets the ruck up well before Canterbury launch an attack, only for Tu Umaga-Marshall to be pushed out just short of the try-line.
46min: Williams delivers a perfect pass to Fruean as Canterbury put the ball through the hands.
56min: Sonny Bill slings a nice ball to Sean Maitland as Canterbury attack from 40 metres out.
58min: Williams receives a pass from Sam Whitelock and runs a nice line. He then delivers a flick off-load to the man who is fast becoming his best-mate, Fruean.
58min: A few phases later Williams shows off his passing pedigree with a sweeping pass to George Whitelock. The Canterbury captain then off-loads to Matt Todd for Canterbury to score the first try of the night.
60min: The Bay of Plenty defence only has eyes for SBW as Andy Ellis dummies to him from the kick-off and makes a half break. Williams looms up in support and canters 20 metres downfield. Sonny Bill shows here that he is a tremendous decoy.
62min: The 108kg Williams has his best moment of the match when he pulls off a last-gasp tackle on former All Blacks winger Lelia Masaga. For all money, Masaga looked like he would get BOP back into the match, as the score was delicately poised at 18-9, but SBW flung his body over the sliding winger and he could only force the ball on the corner post. This is the sort of thing that will please the All Blacks' selectors the most.
71min: Brett uses Sonny Bill as a decoy which frees up the space for Fruean to get on the outside and score a brilliant Canterbury try. The home side now holds an unassailable 29-9 lead.
73min: SBW delivers another beautiful cut-out pass, this time to Sean Maitland, and really is showing his class now.
77min: Williams tracks Phil Burleigh across field on the BOP 22 and flings him to near the sideline.
79min: SBW's last move of the match is one to forget. He receives the ball on the halfway line as the red 'n' blacks hunt a fourth try and inexplicably grubbers the ball straight back to the Steamers. Sonny boy - you're not playing this game to kick!
Verdict
Solid debut from Williams. He made four tackles (including one try-saver), delivered four passes, two off-loads, made two runs, grabbed one intercept, conceded one turnover (from the supposed forward pass) and made one shoddy kick.
However it's his presence in the backline as a decoy that shows his real value. Like the New Zealand public, the BOP defence only had eyes for him and this freed up Fruean for his brilliant final try.
So is he an All Black in waiting? Most certainly, but at this stage - probably from the bench.
