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'We are assuming that they're not going to be there' - Blues coach Leon MacDonald resigned to losing key veterans
By Online Editors
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald isn't expecting star midfielders Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu to return to the Auckland franchise next season.
Speaking to the New Zealand Herald after his side's 22-all draw with the Bulls at Eden Park on Friday, MacDonald said the Blues weren't in negotiations for a new contract with either player for next year.
"We are assuming that they're not going to be there – that's the way we're looking at it," MacDonald said.
"It would be more of a surprise to see them stay and play another season in New Zealand - put it that way.
"I'm assuming they're more interested in another option, but if they came back to us and said New Zealand is where they want to be for another year then we'd definitely be talking."
At the ages of 37 and 33, Nonu and Williams are in the twilights of their respective professional sporting careers, but both will take vast amounts of experience with them.
Nonu made his Super Rugby debut in 2003 for the Hurricanes, and has gone on to amass 173 appearances with the Wellington-based club, the Blues and the Highlanders to add to his 103 test caps two World Cup titles attained with the All Blacks.
He has been in good form for MacDonald's side this year - his third stint with the club - making 12 appearances and scoring three times.
Despite this, an improbable return to the All Blacks squad for the World Cup remains unlikely due to the conveyer belt of talent ahead of Nonu in the midfield.
Reports earlier this week suggested that he could make a remarkable return to Toulon once his time with the Blues comes to an end, re-joining the French club he played for between 2016 and 2018 as replacement for the New York-bound Mathieu Bastareaud.
Williams, meanwhile, has hardly featured for the Blues since the beginning of last year, playing just six times in 2018, and only five times this year.
His limited game time in Super Rugby is the result of injuries sustained over the course of 15 years at the top level of both rugby union and rugby league.
Nevertheless, his inclusion in the All Blacks' World Cup squad appears inevitable should he be fit for the tournament given his experience and talent on both sides of the ball.
It would be the 51-test star's third, and likely final, outing at the sport's global showpiece event, where he will look to add a third successive winners medal to the two Super Rugby crowns and two NRL titles he's claimed across union and league.
Williams won't be short of options when his current contract with New Zealand Rugby runs out at the end of this year, with a return to European or Japanese rugby, or rugby league in Australia, the United Kingdom or North America, all still on the table.
He could also opt to resume his stagnant professional boxing career, while a move into retirement could also be imminent.
Williams is set to return from a long-term knee injury, which has sidelined him since late March, against the Reds in Brisbane next Friday.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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