Williams will get nod if ready tietjens 20160122 p5fx3h.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
Watch Live
Premier League on StanrightArrow
This was published 10 years ago

Williams' rugby sevens debut on the cards

AAP

Powered by
Sonny Bill Williams (AAP - file)

Sonny Bill Williams (AAP - file) 

Sonny Bill Williams will be picked to make his All Blacks Sevens debut in Wellington only if he's ready, coach Sir Gordon Tietjens says.

Tietjens says he's under no pressure to include the dual rugby and league international when he reduces his 24-strong squad on Monday to 12 for the New Zealand leg of the world series the following weekend.

Advertisement

"There's no pressure to pick Sonny," he said.

"I'll pick Sonny if he's ready. He hasn't played the game before. He's got to be really ready and go in with a lot of confidence."

Tietjens said Williams was "pretty nervous" but he was excelling in camp every day and was sure to become a great sevens player.

The 30-year-old Williams, who won a second Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks last year, is among a group of 15-a-side players who have put their hand up for selection for this year's Rio Olympics.

"The guys that have came from 15s - to be fair, they have to make that transition," Tietjens said.

"They are going to be a little rusty, which is probably normal."

But he said the likes of Ardie Savea, Ben Lam, brothers Akira and Rieko Ioane and Williams were training well.

"If things go along really well, they will be part of Wellington."

Most viewed in Rugby

More to explore