Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains says Sonny Bill Williams is past his best


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Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains doubts whether Sonny Bill Williams will ever return to his best.


It has been a frustrating season for the player who is generally regarded as one of the best midfield backs in world rugby.


The low point was the red card he received in the second Test defeat against the British and Irish Lions, but his form as been patchy at best with the cross-code star guilty of far too many errors.


Williams has been named to start his eighth test of the year against Argentina on Sunday (Australia time) but Mains believe he is lucky to be in the team.


“I think maybe he’s getting to the end of it. There’s too many mistakes now, too many things that aren’t working for him that worked three or four years ago,” Mains said.


“Maybe he’s achieved what he’s going to achieve in rugby, that’s what I’m feeling with him. He’s got quite a long way to go to be what you’d call your typical All Black midfield back – who generally tend to be rock solid and don’t make mistakes.”


Mains, who coached New Zealand between 1992 and 1995, also believes prop Kane Hames needs to step up on Sunday as he looks to cement his place in the side.


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Hames left a lot to be desired in his first Test start against South Africa two weeks ago and he faces a big test against the powerful Pumas front row.


“I didn’t think he scrummed all that well,” Mains said.


“He’s got a bit of a tough job ahead of him to prove worthy of being there as a long-term All Black prop. If he does a good job at scrum time against Argentina, he should be able to do it against anybody – they’re very strong front-row players.”


 -Stuff


Article source: http://watoday.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-tigers-have-proven-the-doubters-wrong-with-2017-grand-final-win-20170930-gyry45.html

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