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Crotty gives update on Sonny Bill Williams fitness
By Alex Fisher
Sonny Bill Williams is fit and ready to start New Zealand's Rugby Championship clash with Argentina this weekend as the All Blacks look to bounce back from their loss to South Africa.
The world champions were stunned by the Springboks in Wellington, Steve Hanson's side slipping to a 36-34 defeat on September 15.
Williams missed the game due to tonsillitis, but team-mate Ryan Crotty says the 33-year-old is ready to feature in Buenos Aires, where a bonus-point win will secure the title for the All Blacks.
"He [Williams] was chomping at the bit before that South African game, telling everyone he was okay and good to go," Crotty told reporters.
"He trained well today [and] he's strutting around the hotel like he's feeling good.
"It's good to have him fit and healthy and available for selection."
And Crotty has warned the Pumas they will face a rejuvenated New Zealand side who are still smarting from that Springboks loss last time out.
"This group always expects to win and win well," he added to Radio Sport. "When we don't that's hard to take.
"There's some very competitive men in the group, that's probably an understatement."
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Latest Comments
Reiko should be the dual winger guy as he should be used to playing either side given he's had to do both at 13 (pass and step left/right).
Maybe he has such a bad preference that that's why he's not a good center?
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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