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Sonny Bill Williams sidelined as Blues suffer double injury blow

Sonny Bill Williams of the Blues. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The Blues will be without the services of two of their key players for the upcoming fortnight as Sonny Bill Williams and Blake Gibson have been ruled out due to injury.

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Both players have been sidelined with knee injuries, and will miss two important New Zealand derby clashes against the Chiefs in Hamilton this Saturday and the Highlanders in Dunedin next week.

Williams, the squad’s vice-captain, and Gibson, the squad’s co-captain alongside lock Patrick Tuipulotu, have had limited appearances for the Blues due to both form and injury.

Williams has started just twice from seven matches this season, making a further four outings from off the bench, with fellow second-five Ma’a Nonu often being the preferred option by coach Leon MacDonald.

He captained the side for the first time against the Sunwolves during their 28-20 win in Albany last month, but missed their next clash against the Highlanders in Auckland due to the Christchurch terrorist attacks.

Gibson, who has struggled with injuries throughout the entirety of his four-year Blues career, missed his side’s opening three fixture of the season due to an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season match against the Chiefs, before returning to the starting lineup for the Sunwolves clash.

He went on to start at openside flanker in the ensuing three matches against the Highlanders, Stormers and Waratahs, but this most recent knock will be a frustrating blow for the injury-plagued 23-year-old.

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The Blues are enjoying one of their most successful season in recent times, currently lying in 5th place as they chase their first play-offs appearance since 2011.

After losing their first three matches on the trot, they have secured four consecutive wins in as many weeks, and will be looking push for a spot in the top four with a win at Waikato Stadium this weekend.

In other news:

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Nickers 28 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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