All Blacks fans question Sonny Bill after apparent silence during national anthems

NZ Herald

It hasn't taken much for Sonny Bill Williams to grab the test spotlight after rugby fans questioned why he didn't sing the New Zealand anthem at Eden Park.

The big No 12, returning to the test side after a stint in the Mitre 10 Cup, stayed silent through the M?ori and English versions of God Defend New Zealand before the Bledisloe Cup mauling of the Wallabies.

Williams has not been afraid to use his platform for protest, famously refusing to wear a bank logo on his Blues jersey.

NFL player Colin Kaepernick began a sporting movement three years ago, when he sat and kneeled during the American anthem in protest at racist police violence.

As yet there has been no reason given for Williams staying mum during the anthem, with social media users left to speculate.

Halfback TJ Perenara wore a "Ihum?tao" wrist band in support of the protestors at an Auckland housing development site during Bledisloe Two.

The Ihum?tao protest is an occupation of the land near the protected ?tuataua Stonefields in M?ngere, in opposition to the housing development planned by Fletcher Building.

Coach Steve Hansen brushed off Perenara's decision after the test saying: "It's his decision, it doesn't bother me. I didn't even notice it, to be honest. They write all sorts of stuff on their wrist bands these blokes today. I don't know what I'd write on mine if I had one."

One social media post asked if Williams, who has Samoan heritage, was also supporting the Ihumtao protestors.

Three years ago, New Zealand Maori prop Kane Hames wore a "Standing Rock" wristband in support of the indigenous people in North Dakota, USA.

- First published by the New Zealand Herald and reprinted with permission by RugbyPass.

Watch:

Wallaby coach Michael Cheika and captain Michael Hooper after Bledisloe Two