Michael Guerin: Don't hate him because he's beautiful

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

You can be forgiven for not liking him.

I don't want to like him, not somebody this unfairly talented.

With his super-charmed life, those looks, the insane ability, the international media profile.

All style and magazine shoots and adoring young fans.

And now the monster that is Canterbury rugby has beat up its brave little Southland cousins, he has the Ranfurly Shield to play with as well.

Hardly seems fair when the snow-shovelling, real men of the South lose their most treasured possession to guys like him from Canterbury.

After all, with the All Black end-of-year tour and then a bit of R&R on some stunning beach somewhere, how much time will he spend in Canterbury over the summer to even see the shield? It must rankle the southern men even more knowing the glamour boy can always pop down to rugby headquarters in Christchurch and gel up his perfect hair in the shield's reflection.

Yes, it would be easy not to like him.

A man so outrageously blessed he was destined to wear the black jersey from the time he was old enough to drive.

A man so special he can skive off to go play for some Frog team nobody had ever heard of, leaving his mates at Canterbury to fend for themselves.

And then he returns to New Zealand to a guaranteed All Black jersey.

And he has the guile to do all this while enjoying his life. Being happy, learning languages. The modelling, the topless photo shoots.

It is easy to dislike a man like this. A man who plays a sport that is supposed to take a heavy physical toll, but still looks like an Adonis.

It is easy to not like this man, knowing your girlfriend might occasionally catch a glance of him on TV or a billboard and then consider buying you the Abmaster 2000.

What makes it worse is knowing that, if you played golf with him, he's the sort of guy who would downplay his exploits, be polite and funny. Then outdrive you by 50 metres.

He's the sort of guy whose friends call him by his initials. I mean really, what sort of rugby player is that? You wouldn't have heard Colin Meads or Wayne Shelford getting called by some silly nickname, would you?

This is rugby, not boxing, after all.

And yet he's always so self-effacing on television, with that constant smile, boy-next-door manners and the trendy clothes.

Yes, it is easy to dislike a man like this.

And why Canterbury? Why is he playing for the red-and-blacks, who have so much talent in his position alone, when he could have come to Auckland.

We wanted him, but instead he plays for the one team that could win without him. And we all know, he is far more Auckland than Canterbury.

You know what makes this envy worse. He will soon be jetting off to the Northern Hemisphere with the All Blacks, where he will destroy his opponents and further boost his asking price for his post World Cup-career.

And when he gets there, he will have that other glamour boy outside him.

That one called Sonny Bill Williams.

Yes, it would be easy not to like a man like Dan Carter.

A man who has done all those things you just read and yet is just still on his way to rugby sainthood.

But of course nobody dislikes Carter. Because he's a great guy. Because he plays his rugby like a violent ballet, has bled for his country and because you know the next year of his life is dedicated to winning us the World Cup.

Which makes you wonder why some people - rugby traditionalists they call themselves - dislike Sonny Bill Williams. And want to see him fail so they can say "we told you so".

When you think about it, are DC and SWB really that different?

Sure, one is already an All Black legend but the other one hasn't had that chance yet. Yet.

And considering how SBW has conducted himself on and off the field since coming home, what's not to like?

Unless of course you come from Southland, because he just stole your shield.

Weekend winner

Valerie Adams: You are special when exhausted, after a tough year, you win a gold medal with one throw, adding a Commonwealth record for fun. Her result, compared with most of our people in Delhi, puts her greatness in perspective. Alison Shanks was pretty cool too.

What to watch for

All Whites versus Paraguay tomorrow night. Can't win matches, but can win hearts.