Rugby: 'Money' Bill Williams still wearing NZRU pants

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

It's critical that the pants are wrestled off Sonny Bill Williams in the next month so the New Zealand Rugby Union can start wearing them again.

Or maybe that should be Williams' agent Khoder Nasser who has to relinquish control and be reminded that in the world of the All Blacks, no one is bigger than the team.

So far, no one within the establishment has made that obvious to Williams. Principles have been compromised; allowances made and gold service provided to bring Williams to New Zealand.

Only a few months ago NZRU chief executive Steve Tew stated his reluctance, determination even, to not allow players to use the World Cup as their play thing.

"We don't want to get into a cycle of the best players disappearing in the middle two years of a World Cup cycle. We don't want young players to come through and then get a slap in the face," he said.

The union didn't want to offer players short-term contracts that expired after the World Cup. The aim was to keep them here beyond the tournament so their commitment was not built around six weeks in September and October 2011.

Yet Williams has been offered a contract that allows him precisely that. He's here for the World Cup and then what? Will he disappear back to France straight after and then knock on the NZRU's door again in 2013.

Williams, tellingly, has not said his goal is to become a great All Black. He wants a quick sniff of it and hopefully a World Cup winners' medal.

Reportedly Williams has been offered a total package of about $550,000. That places him towards the top of the list - Richie McCaw and Dan Carter earn more but probably few other senior All Blacks do.

Williams will certainly be earning more than a host of heavily capped All Blacks who have considerable test experience. It's a lot of money to pay for someone who has barely two seasons of rugby behind him and hasn't even played Super 14.

The only battle left for the NZRU to win is guiding Williams towards the right provincial and Super 14 teams. But again, they are giving the impression it's not within their jurisdiction. Which is nonsense.

The NZRU are paying huge money and pretty much own Williams and they have the right to protect their investment.