All Blacks Keven Mealamu and Ma'a Nonu at their homecoming parade in Auckland. Photo / Getty Images
All Blacks Keven Mealamu and Ma'a Nonu at their homecoming parade in Auckland. Photo / Getty Images
Sonny Bill Williams has revealed how the All Blacks kept a lid on their World Cup victory celebrations after senior statesman Keven Mealamu reminded the squad of their status and responsibilities.
Williams confirmed several of his teammates had let their hair down in the days after Sunday's commanding win over the Wallabies, but said the All Blacks were careful not to go "overboard" after Mealamu spoke to the squad in their victorious Twickenham changing room.
"I dare say there's a few boys that have cut loose but nothing overboard," Williams told Radio Sport.
"The first thing that Kevvy said when he stood up in the sheds, he said 'it's a good feeling boys, we've made our country proud' and all that kind of stuff, but he said 'remember you are All Blacks 24-7'.
"And when Mr Mealamu says that everyone listens, and that's the respect that he has and the boys have been pretty tame."
Keven Mealamu is carried off the field at Twickenham after the All Blacks' victory. Photo / Getty Images
Williams has been lapping up the atmosphere and revelry as the All Blacks make their way around the country and engage with their legion of loyal fans and supporters, but is most pleased to be home and reunited with his wife and young daughter.
"[It's been] Crazy and an awesome experience. I'm just glad to be back home in New Zealand," he said.
"The amount of support we have got has been unreal. The boys are loving it and for me it's awesome but it's just good to be back home with my wife and little girl."
On his starring role off the bench in the second-half, including a trademark offload that sent midfield partner Ma'a Nonu on a run to the line for the All Blacks' second try, Williams said he was pleased coach Steve Hansen had called on him sooner than he had expected.
"At halftime he just gave me the tap and said you're going on," he said. "Snakey (Conrad Smith) was playing outstanding but it was just awesome to know that the coaches had faith in me and I was confident.
"Snakey would have been disappointed in coming off but I was disappointed in not starting. That shows how as an All Black it's not about an individual, it's about the team first.
"I was just happy to get out there, but also to make a difference as well, was pleasing."
Williams said he had grown up a lot in the four years since the 2011 World Cup and he had grown and learned to accept his place in the All Blacks, even if that meant not being in the starting XV.
"You just grow up a bit and having the birth of my child, things like that have helped me become a man.
"I knew whatever position or role I was going to have in the team I wanted to do it as best I could.
"I was disappointed not to be starting, but in saying that, we knew we had a job to do and that was to prepare the boys that were starting as well as we could and we sure did that during the week.
"When I got the tap at halftime I was as keen as mustard to get on there. It helps when you really respect the coaches, you just want to play for them. I just wanted to fulfil whatever role I had as best I could.
"That's the pleasing thing, that if you're not disappointed you shouldn't be here, because that shows how much the jersey means to the boys."
