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'It's something I have to live with for the rest of my life' - Sonny Bill Williams' All Blacks regret

Sonny Bill Williams /Getty

Cross code great Sonny Bill Williams has reflected on being the first All Black to be red-carded in 50 years during the British and Irish Lions tour in 2017.

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Williams was sent from the field in Wellington for a crunching headshot on Lions tourist Anthony Watson. Referee Jerome Garces sent Williams off, making him the first All Black to be red carded in half a century of rugby.

It was a decision that cost the All Blacks dearly, potentially swinging the result in favour of Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions and ultimately a drawn series.

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Williams, who was interviewed as part of the Amazon documentary on the New Zealanders 2017 campaign, says it is ‘It’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life’. Amazon have been releasing snippets from the ‘All or Nothing’ documentary series recently on Youtube, in which the former Bulldogs stars reflected on one of biggest regrets of his career.

“It was just a blur you know. Probably like a nightmare I guess. For the ref to make such a dramatic call in a massive game like that you know. 50 years, that’s a big call.”

“Walking off they said you can sit on the sideline or go in the sheds. My first thought was I let the team down and I’ll go inside the sheds. I put my head down and thought ‘nah’ and went over to the bench.”

In an unorthodox move, head coach Steven Hansen opted to sub off a forward, Jerome Kaino, and replace him with centre Ngani Laumape.

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“The toughest thing for me personally, was ‘like man, I let down the team’,” said an emotional Williams. ‘Nah I didn’t talk.’

“After the game, coach came to me straight away. That’s what the All Black environment is, we’re brothers. You got to pick your brother up when he’s down. The boys rallied around me.

“It’s something that for myself, I will have to live with for the rest of my life.”

 

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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