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‘Going to add some silverware’: Sonny Bill Williams tips former club for title
By Finn Morton
The Chiefs extended their unbeaten streak with a convincing win over the Highlanders on Friday, and an All Blacks great believes they can go all the way this season.
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Dual international Sonny Bill Williams has tipped his former club to “add some silverware to the cabinet” after their 10th win of the season.
The two-time Rugby World Cup winner, who won a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs, shared the message on Twitter after the ladder-leaders went coast-to-coast in Dunedin.
“Looking like they’re going to add some silverware to the cabinet this year,” the former All Black tweeted.
Looking like they’re going to add some silverware to the cabinet this year 🔥 https://t.co/BixusvxKay
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) May 5, 2023
The Chiefs started their season with an emphatic win over the Crusaders in Christchurch, and they haven’t looked back since.
Led by playmakers Damian McKenzie and Brad Weber, as well as high-flying outside backs Shaun Stevenson and Emoni Narawa, the Chiefs have been sensational.
The Chiefs beat the Crusaders again in round 10, before heading to Dunedin for their second consecutive match against New Zealand opposition.
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While the Highlanders shocked the undefeated Chiefs with an early try to Ethan de Groot, the visitors quickly took control.
In the end, it wasn’t really close.
The Chiefs unleashed an attacking onslaught against the Highlanders – they went on a try-scoring blitz, which included a brilliant solo effort from Narawa.
With All Blacks coach Ian Foster in the crowd, winger Emoni Narawa and fullback Shaun Stevenson continued to impress ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup.
“There have been a number of players who have out their hand up, but I guess in the case of Shaun and Emoni, they’ve probably been the ones in bright lights,” Foster said on SENZ The Run Home earlier this week.
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“They’ve taken their opportunity, they’re playing regularly and really doing a good job for their franchises and making us have a look at that.
“The fact that you’ve got Sevu Reece, who’s out of contention… it does mean that we are putting the spotlight on that space.
“It’s a good time to be playing well as an outside back, that’s all I’d say.”
The real story here is that both Chiefs halfbacks outplayed Highlanders All Black halfback Aaron Smith. Smith was very slow in clearing the ball from rucks. An important part of the Chiefs success this season is the speed that both Weber and Ratima clear the ball. Quickly recycled ball puts more pressure on the opposition defenses and from here the Chiefs backline can (and do) capitalize. Aaron Smith has a lot of work to do and a lot of ground to make up.