SBW.

Sonny Bill Williams has the potential to overtake Ma’a Nonu by the Rugby World Cup 2011. There I have put it out there.

I put it out there to Sumo Stevenson about a week ago on twitter, to which he replied ‘Ma’a is the Man fullstop.’

After seeing SBW put Tana to the sword yesterday though I am not so sure about Sumo’s comment.

It is a sentiment I see echoed by Frank Bunce today in his article.

Granted Tana is ageing, and he was up against the most up-and-coming centre pairing in New Zealand in SBW and Fruean, but surely any sceptics have to be looking at themselves in the mirror about SBW’s potential.

His attack has never been in question, his offloading skills make him the most tantalising prospect in the ITM Cup. He is now starting to score tries with frequency – none better than the one he used to bust open the game for Canterbury against Wellington back in round 9

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The 65m effort against Otago also showed his deceptive pace.

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His defence however at the start of the competition was lacking. This though over the past month has started to shore up, and he is starting to read the game much better.

Against Counties he was on fire. It was a fine performance, the razzle-dazzle offloads, the key tackles, none more so than a full length dive to clip Sherwin Stowers (who otherwise would have been away for a try), and the general nous to be in the right place, at the right time.

The only aspect of sonny’s game which I have not seen yet is his big defence.

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This was on the blindside flanker. I suspect though that as with his vast repertoire of skills which he has been unleashing week by week, these are coming.

For camp SBW, this PR exercise has gone basically to plan. Apart from his skiing trip - it has been very much smooth sailing.

The most pleasing aspect of SBW has been his humbleness, and his demeanour.

Stories from the Christchurch earthquake tell of him making sure everyone in his building was alright.

Pictures, and videos after games do not lie either.

To see him mobbed after the Otago game underlines his star status. Yes, he did get mobbed, but no, he didn’t get angry, frustrated, annoyed, he patiently signed autographs, did all the right things.

Brand SBW still does not have much credibility across the Tasman in many NRL circles, after the PR disaster which was his exit from the Bulldogs.

Brand SBW in New Zealand, and for the most part in Europe however, will have stocks rising all over the show. If he was an investment opportunity, I'd get a lot of my money (that is, coming off my student wage) in it right now - as he is about to soar.

Today he will be confirmed as an All Black. He is sure to fit into that setup with just as much ease as he can offload a ball while being tackled by two defenders. Now that is class.