Paul Lewis: Not broken? Don't fix it

Joe Rokocoko. Photo / Getty Images

Amid all the good news heading back to this part of the world from the All Black tour of the UK and Ireland is a little, itty-bitty, fingernail of doubt scraping at the smooth veneer of their stately progress.

They want to rebuild Sonny Bill.

As seen in Gregor Paul's story, the All Blacks have realised that Sonny Bill Williams hasn't lifted many weights and has some areas of development in his body that can deliver even more power. Oh dear.

He's world-class now. Can't we just let him get on with being world-class? The phrase 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' comes to mind. As does another pithy phrase: don't cock it up.

It's only a few years since the All Blacks management lost their obsession with the power athlete. As defences became ever more expert at smothering offensive moves, coaches (especially the All Black coaches) insisted on building a power athlete.

Like Joe Rokocoko. He needed more power, they said. It was off to the gym to build power - not bulk, mind you. They were always quick to spell the difference.

The only trouble with some stretch-the-envelope theories is that they occasionally burst when it comes to, er, practical things. Joe might have been more powerful but he seemed to have lost the thing that made him one of the All Black greats. His speed.

Wingers are notoriously subject to the strains of time on their fast-twitch fibres but Joe is still only 27 today. It wasn't age. Whatever the reason, he seemed to have lost that brilliant, gliding, sinuous running that took him past defenders and over trylines.

Certainly defences had improved out of sight - but Joe didn't seem any better for his extra power. He was stronger. But he wasn't any better. He seemed to have lost that knack of beating the first tackler.

That's why Hosea Gear is looking such a breath of fresh air on this tour.

Sometimes natural athletes are best left being natural.

That's the thing with Sonny Bill. After a few runs for the All Blacks, he has already introduced an offload style which has defence coaches around the world perplexed.

How do you stop that? Even if you swamp him with defenders, the space he creates means opportunities for others.

Not only does he have the height and strength to go through tackles and make the ball available, he can also produce unexpected, one-hand passes that make defenders about as useful as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest.

If they have an embarrassment of riches in the midfield, the All Blacks are less well off elsewhere - in the highly-publicised and vexed area of deputies for Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.

The inclusion of Liam Messam on the bench against Ireland this morning was maybe the biggest hint that the selectors are closing in on an alternative. These days, a No 7 does not have to do quite as much ball-fetching as they used to.

Messam has speed, power, ball skills and is more physical at the breakdown. He can also cover 6, 7 and 8. If his tendency towards expensive errors has gone, his performance off the bench this morning could see him leap ahead of Daniel Braid and the injured Adam Thomson.

First five-eighths is a different story; the one weeping sore of this tour. Steven Donald was an error and they will need to introduce one of Colin Slade (who seems to have the elusive "it") or Aaron Cruden (ditto, but maybe not yet) as soon as possible next year.

They will need to give them time to develop combinations and to fit into the All Black machine so they are not too overawed if Carter is injured and they have to step up. Who said Cardiff, 2007?

Gregor Paul (see story, p86) eloquently writes that the All Black selectors have some tough decisions to make, like that between Williams and Ma'a Nonu.

He points out that they have form, in their excitement at such riches, when it comes to making complex the simple; introducing the theory of relativity when just relative common sense was required.

The prevailing wisdom is that the All Blacks should start with Nonu and Conrad Smith in midfield; that their combination should take precedence; that Williams can wreak havoc when he comes off the bench.

But Williams seems tailor-made for a start. The pattern to which the All Blacks seem to be playing works best when they get out to a lead.

Sonny Bill seems most likely to help them achieve that. They are then highly adept at putting the defensive squeeze on opponents playing catch-up rugby; hitting them with their renowned counter-attacks.

If Williams has a lot to learn, especially on defence, then so be it. Play him more. Teach him and let him learn. It's not as if Nonu is a defensive genius either.

But please ... please ... don't rebuild him too much. He's bloody good just like he is. Hmmm?

It calls to mind the ancient TV programme The Six Million Dollar Man, with a character called Steve Austin, rebuilt to be part-man, part-machine; capable of staggering feats. Austin was played by an actor called Lee Majors, never known for his IQ.

At a party in the US, Majors was having trouble guessing the identity of another guest, King Constantine, the deposed monarch of Greece. "King of Greece ... ?" Constantine helpfully murmured. Majors looked confused.

"I didn't think there was a king in Grease ..."

The All Blacks need to avoid making a similarly dumb mistake with Sonny Bill.