Sonny Wool (2008–2020) was a sheep from the North Island of New Zealand. Born in Dannevirke circa 2008,Psychic sheep tips All Blacks – wool they win?, ABC News, 9 September 2011 he was named after All Black Sonny Bill Williams. He became famous after his feeding behaviour was used to correctly predict the winner of each of the New Zealand national rugby union team's matches at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. His role at the 2011 Rugby World Cup was compared to that of Paul the Octopus at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.Meet Sonny Wool; match-predicting sheep genius and Rugby World Cup 2011's answer to Paul the Octopus, Fox Sports, 9 September 2011.
Sonny Wool's owner was Beverley Dowling. His agent was Dan Boyd, who also designed the sheep's prediction process. The prediction process was designed so that Sonny Wool was presented with two boxes containing feed in the form of hay, each box marked on the outside with the flag of a national rugby union team in a forthcoming match. His choice of which hay to eat first was interpreted as indicating his prediction of a win for the country whose flag was on that box. Selections by the sheep were correct in all of New Zealand's matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup,It’s 4 from 4, Now do or die QF time for Sonny Wool!, scoop.co.nz, 3 October 2011. though predictions for the other three quarter-finals turned out to be incorrect.
Sonny Wool had his own website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. He was reported to be under 24-hour security watch after receiving death threats.Sonny Wool receives Death Threats, scoop.co.nz, 13 October 2011.
Personality According to Dan Boyd, as a lamb, Sonny Wool predicted when it was going to rain. His manager described him as "a bit socially inept" who prefers the company of humans and has "got a few fetishes for things – one is light at night and he really likes rugby balls".Rugby World Cup 2011: psychic sheep Sonny Wool meets Sonny Bill Williams and backs All Blacks to beat Canada, by Giles Mole, The Telegraph, 27 Sep 2011.
Results 2011 Rugby World Cup Teams Stage Date Prediction Result Outcome vs Pool stage New ZealandSonny Wool picks Kiwis to beat Japan, Herald Sun, 16 September 2011. vs Pool stage New Zealand vs Pool stage New Zealand vs Pool stage New Zealand vs Quarter-finals IrelandRugby World Cup 2011: Sonny Wool the psychic sheep predicts England to beat France in quarter-finals, by Giles Mole, The Telegraph, 5 October 2011. vs Quarter-finals England vs Quarter-finals South Africa vs Quarter-finals New ZealandMove over Paul, here's Sonny Wool, by Brenden Nel, SuperSport.com, 5 October 2011. vs Semi-finals New Zealand vs Final New Zealand
See also Sheep Similar oracles Shrek (sheep)
References
External links Website