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SBW weighs in on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's best rugby position

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams has weighed in on where he sees Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s best playing position in rugby union.

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Tuivasa-Sheck was granted an early release from his NRL contract with the Warriors on Monday to return to Auckland and begin his union career earlier than anticipated in light of the eight-week travel pause between New Zealand and Australia.

The 28-year-old announced in February he would end his glittering rugby league career at the end of the current NRL season to pursue a two-year deal with New Zealand Rugby and the Blues next season.

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However, the unpredictable Covid-19 climate has forced the 2018 Dally M Medallist to call time on his league career with six rounds still to play in the NRL regular season.

The ex-Warriors captain leaves league with 195 NRL appearances, a 2013 NRL Premiership title and 20 test caps to his name, and is expected to begin his union career with Auckland in this season’s NPC, which will kick-off next weekend.

Williams told Channel Nine it is now only a matter of time before Tuivasa-Sheck becomes an All Black, where he believes his former Sydney Roosters and Kiwis teammate is likely feature on the wing.

“I think he’ll play wing in the early stages of his transition,” Williams, one of the greatest union-league dual-code athletes ever, said of Tuivasa-Sheck.

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“For me, it’s not a case of will he make it to the All Blacks or will he thrive in the game of 15, it’s a question of how long it’ll take.

“We’ve got to remember that he grew up as a rugby player and league boys poached him from the game of rugby and brought him across, so he shouldn’t have too much problems transitioning back.”

Williams – who played 58 tests for the All Blacks, won two Rugby World Cups, won two NRL Premierships, played 12 tests for the Kiwis and played sevens for New Zealand at the 2016 Rio Olympics – noted Tuivasa-Sheck’s move to union will be significant for the code in Australia.

“The biggest thing for rugby-loving people in Australia is it’s the shot in the arm that Australian rugby union needs right now.”

Williams added Tuivasa-Sheck has all the characteristics required to flourish as a union player as he eyes a place in the All Blacks squad for the 2023 World Cup in France.

“For me, what he represents, obviously we see his feats on the field and it’s amazing he can do things that no other player can do, but what I love about him is just him as a man, the person,” Williams told Channel Nine.

“He is humble and he’s kept that hard-working approach all throughout his career.

“What Roger also represents is he is a boy from South Auckland, a predominantly low-income area, and he’s made it. He’s thrived on the biggest stage so a lot of young guys who come from that similar background see him as an inspiration.”

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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