31 Jul 2012

Sonny Bill to get a couple more games in an All Blacks jersey

5:52 am on 31 July 2012

The All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says departing midfield back Sonny Bill Williams is all but certaint to play in the first two tests of the new rugby championship, the Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia next month.

The 26-year-old Williams announced earlier this month he'd signed to play for Japanese club Panasonic, which was expected to rule him out of the rugby championship.

However with centre Conrad Smith now out for at least six weeks with an eye injury and the All Blacks playing the Wallabies on August 18th in Sydney and a week later in Auckland, Hansen says they've reconsidered their view on Williams.

Hansen will name the squad for the tournament on Sunday.