Henry raves over Sonny Bill's 'potential'

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has reaffirmed his keenness to have Sonny Bill Williams as part of his All Blacks, going as far as to suggest he "could be a real factor" in World Cup year.

Henry last week spoke about the New Zealand Rugby Union's big push for Williams, a hard-sell campaign which included Henry spending the best part of a day driving Williams' Sydney-based agent Khoder Nasser around his various Auckland appointments.

Williams has a contract from the NZRU in front of him and is currently considering his options, with strong indications he will take the necessary pay-cut and return home to New Zealand to chase a place in the World Cup squad.

Henry told Radio Sport that hopes were high Williams would be in New Zealand for the upcoming national provincial championship, where he is set to play for either Canterbury or Counties Manukau.

"Sonny Bill Williams is obviously a very fine athlete and it's just whether he can play rugby at the highest levels," said Henry. "We're trying to ensure he has that opportunity. Hopefully he will play here in the national provincial championship and in Super rugby next year."

Henry described Williams as "a real possibility" to make next year's World Cup squad, but did add the qualifier that the big midfielder still had to prove himself.

All indications, according to Henry, were that he was well capable of that based on an outstanding season with Toulon in the French Top 14 and European competitions.

"He's getting better and better," said Henry. "He's considered one of the best centres in Europe. We're not talking to him because he's just a great big athlete. We think he's got huge potential and he's starting to prove that on the rugby field."

World Cup-type potential?

"We think he could be a real factor," added the All Blacks coach.

Henry told Radio Sport his four new faces would all feature at some stage of the upcoming June tests against Ireland and Wales, though he admitted they would have to be judicious about how a youngster like Aaron Cruden was introduced to international rugby.

"Obviously we don't throw him in the deep end without strength around him," Henry told Radio Sport.

The All Blacks coach also sent out a clear message to players who had missed All Blacks selection who were considering overseas contracts.

He said players at the level below the All Blacks needed to be patient if they still had ambitions to play for their country.

"There's one guy who we would have selected who signed a contract to go overseas two or three months ago because he never thought he's be in contention," said Henry.

He refused to name the player, other than to say it wasn't young Cantab Michael Paterson who had recently decided to bolt for Cardiff. There has been speculation it could have been Crusaders five-eighth Daniel Bowden who committed to a move to England midway through the Super 14.

Added Henry: "He's very disappointed now he's done that because it's always been his ambition. So I guess it's just getting that information across to players and trying to ensure they are a wee bit more patient."

- © Fairfax NZ News