What is the best way to tackle Sonny Bill Williams? I posed this question on Twitter recently following SBW's recent barn-storming display against The Sharks at Twickenham and received plenty of opinions - some more colourful than others - which I thought I would share with you.

So, what is the best way to tackle Sonny Bill?

"Bring DeWet Barry or Brian Lima out of retirement."

"Tranquilliser darts?"

"Food poisoning."

"David Pocock."

"Horse tranquilizer."

"Impossible."

"Below the knees, hold on tight, like James Small tackled Jonah Lomu."

"Get in the ring with him."

Interesting answers - some more viable than others. One other reader highlighted how Wallabies centre Stirling Mortlock stopped a rather green SBW when the latter was playing for the Barbarians in 2009 (see video above) and there is little doubt that he was stopped in his tracks.

However, on that occasion he was not helped by the pass from Kiwi fly-half Luke McAlister and was critically stopped behind the gainline before he could get up a head of steam. But that was SBW circa 2009 and while his union credentials had been boosted by a spell with Toulon he was playing for the Baa Baas whose pre-match preparation revolves around a hotel bar.

SBW is now a more refined rugby product and alarmingly for the rest of the world he is not the finished article. He runs intelligent lines (whilst also holding his own in defence) and is also blessed by dominant forward packs with both the Crusaders and the All Blacks and the service of arguably the world's greatest player - a certain Dan Carter.

Add SBW's own physical stature, pace and skillset and the problem of tackling him is all too apparent. But as any fan of the game will know, tackling him is only part of the problem due to his enviable ability to off load out of the tackle.

Our own archives are filled with pictures of SBW wearing defenders like a cloak, brandishing the ball like an apple looking for a supporting runner who he more often than not finds with a timely floated pass. So it is clearly not just a case of stopping the 1.91m, 108kg and green-booted (this week) machine but also ensuring the ball also comes to rest.

The obvious answer to both problems is to deny the Crusaders/All Blacks the ball in the first place - a task easier said than done. All Blacks coach Graham Henry is no doubt aware that he is in possession of a real game-breaking talent (in addition to at least a couple of others) and having made his international bow at the back end of last year he is sure to take a central role in the forthcoming Tri-Nations - that will be a key testing ground - and the World Cup.

Between now and then, Robbie Deans, Peter de Villiers, Martin Johnson, Warren Gatland and co will continue to ponder the answer posed here - good luck with that one.