Chris Rattue: True superstars stand the test of time

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

The Sonny Bill Williams show should kick off in earnest this week and this unique rugby extravaganza continues to gather pace.

Canterbury play Tasman in Nelson on Saturday afternoon - the early bets will be on Williams making an appearance in the second half.

Williams got the royal treatment from the Sky commentators on Friday night, even though he didn't actually appear for Canterbury against North Harbour because of a "tight hamstring".

Unavailable yes, but certainly not forgotten.

Not since "Bring Back Buck" entered the language has an absent friend been so present. Williams won frequent mentions in association with the blockbusting Canterbury centre Robbie Fruean who was actually playing, and playing rather well.

Williams is an undeniable ratings winner and publicity magnet. Some people have it and most don't on the fascination front. Even the Williams doubters among us can't ignore him.

Fruean found it easier to evade the North Harbour defence than Williams as the commentators speculated about them as a fearsome centre pairing.

Fruean may be excited by this, or he may not.

When Williams makes his grand entrance, second five-eighths Stephen Brett and Fruean will be the candidates to step aside, even though Fruean himself should have All Black aspirations. Canterbury also have the injured midfield back Ryan Crotty waiting in the wings.

Williams will need a leg up. After a slow start, champions Canterbury are building nicely, and don't need potential disruptions.

My belief is that Williams was overrated as a league player, despite his obvious and remarkable strengths.

League is not prone to hiding a light under a bushel, and instant superstars are seen as the panacea in a tough sports market.

Legends of old were made over time - they were true competitors such as Andrew Johns, men who were extraordinarily resilient against major injury, never flinched in the trenches and made their teams special. Nowadays, superstars are conjured up in a flash.

Williams has been dogged by injuries and bottled it when the Canterbury Bulldogs were struggling. He could never be accused of over-dedication to one cause but instead is evidence of a generation which feels the world owes them a living.

Put it this way - when it comes to learning the rugby arts, he is unlikely to be another Brad Thorn.

Williams has a lot of upright power, and could free the ball for support players like no other in league. As opponents testified, he also hit very hard, aided by league's allowance of shoulder charges.

Acceleration and dexterity will sorely test Williams in top level rugby, as he builds on his Toulon apprenticeship. His brittle body will be twisted around like never before.

The NPC will not be a complete guide.

The gulf between the NPC and test rugby, especially in the space for ball carriers, is huge. Williams doesn't yet intend any long-term dedication to rugby - he has set himself for a life of smash and grab raids. There will be little time to develop instincts for the top level game, where space is at a premium and ball control vital.

The All Black selectors, who would be pilloried should they stuff up another World Cup campaign, might shy away from offering him too many chances. The jury is still out of course and nobody would doubt the potential. He'll get plenty of assistance, and every lucky break possible.

But you could only laugh at proclamations Williams was the real rugby deal after one game for Belfast in Christchurch club rugby. This made as much sense as conducting a restaurant review of the club's sausage sizzle.

Club rugby is three levels below the test game, officially, and in reality even more removed than that.

Even to a skeptic though, SBW's rugby venture is a compelling show, whichever way events turn out.

* Tiger Woods was in danger of being overrun by a revolution partly of his own making at the PGA championship in Wisconsin.

Woods set new golfing standards, showed that age was no barrier to extreme success, and helped golf further sweep the world.

The bright new things - led by American Nick Watney - swept up the leaderboard at Whistling Straits. They included Wenchong Liang from China - Tiger's superstardom and Asian heritage helped fuel the game's popularity in Asia.

Golf has a new look in a few ways. My nearest and dearest - a sports naysayer - even commented on the improved dress sense of the players in the PGA. No longer does the game look like a Florida retirement convention, she reckoned.

There has been brilliant shot making and long hitting from some of the new boys. Liang broke the course record.

Woods, his mind muddled by scandal, has fallen back, and the opposition is moving forward. He could still be a part of the brave new world but he won't dominate again.

Weekend winners:

The Warriors - hanging in for the top eight. Northland - a rare rugby treat against Manawatu.

What to watch:

The SBW show.