Sonny Bill's field test shows he is fit for action

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FINALLY FIT: Sonny Bill Williams of Canterbury Metro runs with the ball against Canterbury Country in the curtain-raiser before the ITM Cup match between Canterbury and Auckland.

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All that remains now is for Canterbury coach Rob Penney to actually go ahead and pick Sonny Bill Williams.

Knee and hamstring problems have slowed Williams' introduction to the Canterbury ranks but they no longer appear to be an issue.

Asked to prove his fitness for Canterbury Metro against Canterbury Country at AMI Stadium last night, the former Bulldogs and Kiwis rugby league star showed in 40 minutes of action that physically, at least, he's ready for the rigours of provincial rugby.

"I had scans last week and they said it [his right hamstring] came up pretty much perfect," Williams said after the match.

"Obviously there's a little bit of pain there, but I've just got to push through it and it's good mentally to know that I can push through the pain.

"It was definitely a confidence-booster out there and hopefully Penz and Tabs [Canterbury coaches Penney and Tabai Matson], I've shown them enough that I can get out there [for Canterbury]."

His skills appeared up to the mark too, as he hopped into first-receiver at times and displayed a long-passing game that hadn't been evident in his 13-a-side days. And having scored two of Metro's three first half tries, Williams was spelled with his team leading 19-0.

''That's one thing I really aim to improve on," Williams said of his skill-execution.

''I was happy with it. Obviously there's always room to improve and I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing and practising the basics so I can fit into the side.

''It was good being out there and just being able to direct the traffic and that's what I need to show because, in the position I'm aiming to play, you need to give good comms and give good solutions."

Aside from the ball playing, Williams showed an ability to back-up and his first try came when Canterbury NPC squad-mate Robbie Flynn made a 22m drop out to himself, ran to the halfway line and then passed to Williams, who shed two defenders and then outsprinted a third to score in the right-hand corner.

The second was a more short-range affair, with Williams running off the shoulder of Metro first five-eighths Kieran Lindsay and barging his way over from about 10m out.

He then came off at halftime, as planned, and wasn't prepared to shed any light on the previous Saturday's well-publicised trip to Mt Hutt.

"What's done can't be undone. I just want to talk about rugby."

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