Keep in mind he's fasting for Ramadan so as much as he tried, he wouldn't have performed at 100% against the Springboks.
The article seems critical, but you have to remember that playing in the World Cup was a pretty big goal to set considering he is so new to the sport. Can't fault him for trying.
He's been playing rugby for 3 years now and I'm pretty sure he's played it prior to going professional in league. I don't think you can use the 'still adapting' argument.
He was quite awful against the Boks in Port Elizabeth, but he was also poor against them in the Wellington test. He has a lot of errors in his game and his passing game is so far behind Nonu's it's not funny.
I've said multiple times I like Sonny as a rugby player and I rate him as one, but I'm laughing to myself about all those clowns who don't even watch union but claim Sonny was or is the 'premier centre/back in union' at the time.
Nonu's form for the All Blacks shows what having good (or bad) players around you, like SBW has had with Canterbury and the Crusaders (good players in this case), can do. People were so critical of him (Nonu) during the Super 15, but he actually wasn't as poor as people said and the internal and on field problems of the Canes didn't help.
SBW on the other hand was playing in a team with Corey Flynn, B & O Franks, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Richie McCaw, Matt Tod, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, Dan Carter, Zac Guildford, Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland and Robbie Freuan. Most of them are in the All Blacks 30 man World Cup squad.
Like I said, I like SBW as a rugby player, he is exciting and he has plenty of talent, but he is still a long way behind Nonu and his games this season in the Tri-Nations have shown that.
Hammett was a clown to let Nonu go too by the way, who is he going to play instead? Jayden Hayward? Talented kid but not a top Super 15 second five yet.