'Shove it': Kiwi media's stunning spray for Sonny Bill Williams

Sonny Bill Williams has been crucified in New Zealand media after a defiant response suggestions his All Blacks' position is "under pressure".

The veteran Kiwi international fired a broadside at media reporting position was in jeopardy ahead of the World Cup in Japan.

Williams, who turns 34 on Saturday and has struggled with injuries the past two seasons, was retained in Steve Hansen's trimmed-down squad on Wednesday but is set to be rested for the final Rugby Championship match against Australia in Perth next week.

With New Zealand boasting a slew of fit, high-quality centres including Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape and Anton Lienert-Brown media are questioning whether Hansen should gamble on the twice World Cup winner.

Williams, who will be sent back to provincial rugby for two weekends before returning to the squad for the Wallabies Test in Auckland, made it clear he was tired of the speculation.

"And for those that say I'm under pressure playing a game that I enjoy. Get your priorities right," he wrote on Twitter.

"Look at what's going on in the world. Starving children, the single mother raising 3 kids, the atrocities refugees are facing around the world, racism. This is what I call pressure."

Writing for the New Zealand Herald Chris Rattue claimed Williams "ignores the simple concept that people can be obsessed with sport and concerned about the plight of others," in a stunning broadside at the All Blacks legend.

“I’d prefer to be force fed the pathetic religious ramblings of Israel Folau, because they are at least genuinely held, if misguided," Rattue added.

“SBW’s casual use of world tragedies for his own purpose is narcissism dressed up as altruism. A man who claims he is feeling no pressure sounds like a man under pressure. So take that sermon and shove it SBW.”

Former New Zealand cricketer Mark Richardson also took aim at the All Blacks star on his radio show, defending the media for their reporting on Williams.

“I’d suggest that doing one’s job is the most important priority for a sports journo, so do you deny the right of a sports journo to do their job, Sonny Bill? So they can feed their families Sonny Bill?”

“Honestly Sonny, yes there are people struggling in the world and yes we care about them.

“But you are an All Black. Get over yourself and let people in this country talk what they like to talk and that is rugby.”

Williams missed a lot of Super Rugby for Auckland Blues this season after knee surgery but returned to the Test arena in the starting number 12 jersey in the 16-16 draw against South Africa in Wellington last Saturday.

Renowned for his crisp offloads, he tallied none, recorded no linebreaks or beaten defenders, and ran only 14 metres.

Outside him, Goodhue ran 56 metres and scored a try, made two linebreaks and beat seven defenders.

Hansen defended Williams' quiet game, saying he was just happy to see him emerge unscathed.

"He hasn't played a lot of rugby and was rusty so we won't get too judgmental about his rugby performance, the fact was his body held together. That was encouraging," Hansen said after the Boks Test.

With agencies