Rugby: Sonny Bill happy back in black

Sonny Bill Williams says making the All Blacks is not top of his agenda. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - Sonny Bill Williams strolled in wearing his black Barbarians rugby tracksuit and a slight look of trepidation.

But there was no need for body armour or a flock of bouncers like his Sydney airport arrival - unless you count former England internationals Martin Corry and Mike Catt who flanked him at the top table.

It was the former Kiwis league international's first Australian press conference since his infamous Bulldogs walkout in August last year; which prompted the slightly hysterical title of 'most hated Australian' from a readers' poll in lads mag Zoo Weekly.

After a deep breath and a sip of water, a relaxed Williams spoke of the positive public reception since his return from a rugby season in Toulon, and his nerves and excitement about taking on the Wallabies on Saturday.

And, showing you can take the boy out of Auckland but not Auckland out of the boy, his sentences were dotted with "brother" and "cuz" rather than "monsieur".

His aim for Saturday night, when he lines up alongside nine other New Zealanders including Justin Marshall, Luke McAlister, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack and Greg Somerville, is simple.

"I'm not saying I'm going to go out there and be a star. I'll just try to do the basics well and try to learn and not let Stirling Mortlock run through me," he said.

Williams, 23, knows plenty of attention will be on him at the Sydney Football Stadium after an indifferent start to the 15-man code with some flashes of brilliance, in a struggling team.

He found it tough early on, but said playing at centre alongside former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga helped him later the season after an injury-plagued start.

He enjoyed the south of France, and recently signed on for another season. But he felt he had to prove himself in his first match back in Australia.

"Definitely, you're always going to have your critics. Me being a league player playing rugby, they're going to be at me again to see how I go. I'm going out there to try and have a strong game and show people I can play rugby."

Williams insisted trying to impress the All Blacks selectors was furthest from his mind.

He met with assistant coach Wayne Smith in France recently, but said that was more by chance than design.

"He came over to see Dan Carter play and caught up with Tana Umaga. I just happened to see them having a coffee and just had a couple of words with him.

"In New Zealand they've got plenty of talent so they're not going to be knocking on my door to get back there any time soon."

But he wouldn't rule out linking up with the new Australian Super 15 franchise in 2011 or making himself available for Samoa at the next World Cup.

"Maybe, man, anything's possible at this stage."

He felt centre was his best position, but hoped to "move a bit closer to the action" as he learned more about rugby.

Williams showed few ill-effects from his charity boxing bout against compatriot Gary "The Baboon" Gurr in Brisbane last Wednesday (a second-round knockout), and said he hadn't needed to duck any rotten fruit in Brisbane or Sydney.

"Surprisingly it's been really good just walking the streets. People have come up giving me their best wishes. It's been really good. Not like the doom and gloom the papers make out it is."

He insisted there were no hard feelings towards the Bulldogs, whom he left one year into a five-year deal, and said he'd been in touch with some of his former teammates including Reni Maitua who faces a uncertain future after a positive drugs test - "I hope it works out for him".

"A few of the boys will come along (on Saturday). I don't want to say their names, they might get in trouble. I've spoken to a few of the boys and they're keen to come down and have a geezer.

"I still support the Bulldogs, even though I probably don't get on with the administration."

- NZPA