Controversial Kiwi Sonny Bill Williams says he's not concerned about the reception he will get when he returns to Sydney to play for the Barbarians against the Wallabies in June.
And the former Bulldog insisted he was ready to step up to the level required to take on the Wallabies.
Williams will not be joined by the two other big-name former NRL stars now playing rugby in France, Mark Gasnier and Craig Gower, for the match at the Sydney Football Stadium on June 6.
But the Australian Rugby Union was still accused of trying to get one over its rival code by announcing Williams as the first Barbarians invitee for a game being played just three days after the State of Origin opener.
Williams, whose sudden departure after 19 rounds of last year's premiership caused outrage within league circles, said he was unfazed by the reaction his appearance may generate.
"It's not something I'm going to be worried about. I'm a rugby player now and my focus is going to be on playing rugby," Williams told the Sydney Morning Herald from France last night.
"This is a big game for me so I'm not going to let myself be distracted by other issues. The Wallabies are one of the best rugby teams in the world and I want to put in a good performance against them."
ARU chief executive John O'Neill was adamant the announcement was not being used as a lever to upset the local rugby league ranks.
"It's not a publicity stunt," O'Neill said.
"Sonny Bill Williams is a rugby player now and he's been invited by the Barbarians. He's a name. If it creates publicity, I think the publicity is generally good publicity. And publicity for the Barbarians game doesn't hurt. We flagged some weeks ago he may be a player the Barbarians may look at. Whether he puts bums on seats, I suspect he will. Would I be happy with that? Yes, I would.
"We also have no desire in turning this into a circus and I don't think it will be a circus. He is taking his rugby career seriously. We weren't involved whatsoever in his defection. It happened.
"It's been settled legally and he's free to play. We're keen to see a fantastic contest and the fact he's part of it well if it adds to the lustre of the event, so be it. He was a great rugby league player and if he returns to that type of form in rugby union, he will be quite a handful."
After spending a frustrating three months on the sideline with a leg injury sustained in just his third match, Williams has been back in action since mid-December and said he was happy with his form as Toulon fight to avoid relegation from the Top 14 competition by climbing to 10th place after last weekend's 23-12 win over Bourgoin.
"I feel I am ready to play in a game like this and I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing against the Wallabies," he said.
Considered a superstar in league, Williams said he was still coming to terms with his new code and position of outside-centre but felt the more he played, the better he would get.
"I feel like I've been going all right when I'm not carrying any injuries, but I've still got a lot to learn about rugby," he said. "I'm learning all the time and I'll hopefully learn more from this Barbarians game. Every game I'm trying to improve and I feel like I'm getting better."
O'Neill deflected complaints that as Williams was a contract-breaker in rugby league, his involvement against an Australian national team would cheapen the Wallabies jersey.
"That was a matter between him and rugby league," O'Neill said. "He left rugby league in circumstances that we weren't involved in. He's now playing rugby union. What's happened in the past is in the past, and he has been invited by the Barbarians to play for them. They're entitled to invite whoever they like to invite.
"This is not about rubbing rugby league's nose in anything at all. The fact is that there is a bit of a revolving door these days between rugby league and rugby union. You are seeing league players going to France, Japan and for many years, you saw rugby union players leaving to play league. So it's not a new phenomenon."
Gasnier will not be available for the Barbarians as he will still be involved in club commitments at Stade Francais. The
SMH has also been told that Gower, who is performing well with Bayonne, will not receive an invitation from the Barbarians.
Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg said of Williams's involvement in the game: "The Australian sporting public are discerning and perceptive. They have long memories and I have no doubt they will ultimately judge Sonny Bill Williams for the actions he's made. But the Bulldogs have moved on. We wish him well."
The Barbarians, who will play a lead-up game against England at Twickenham on May 30, will not finalise their lineup until earlier that month. But it is expected to include former All Blacks back-rower Jerry Collins, who is a teammate of Williams at Toulon. The second-row combination is likely to revolve around another All Black, Chris Jack and former Wallaby Justin Harrison.
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