Bledisloe blow with SBW on sidelines

ALL Blacks back Sonny Bill Williams has been ruled out of both Tests against Australia this month, continuing a rotten run with injury.

Coach Steve Hansen confirmed veteran inside centre Williams will be named in his Rugby Championship squad on Monday but won’t be fit for either Bledisloe Cup Test.

Williams, who turns 33 on Saturday, missed the first two Tests against France in June with a knee complaint.

He has not played since damaging a shoulder joint in the third Test and is targeting a return for the third Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Nelson.

“He looks fit and he trained well this morning without doing any of the contact stuff,” Hansen said.

“The injury he’s got inhibits him from doing physical stuff but his running was good.”

Another to miss the Wallabies Tests in Sydney on August 18 and in Auckland on August 25 will be Dane Coles.

The dynamic hooker joined Williams and 27 others at an All Blacks training camp in Christchurch yesterday.

The camp does not feature any players from the Crusaders, who are hosting the Lions in the Super Rugby final in the same city on Saturday.

Coles has not played for nine months since rupturing knee ligaments during a Test against France in Paris.

The 31-year-old has regained strength and flexibility in his knee and is likely to be among three hookers in the 33-man squad.

However, Hansen wants his initial return to come at provincial level, with an eye to a Test recall later in the Rugby Championship.

“Once he’s had enough rugby, he’ll come to us,” Hansen said. “We’ve just got to get him running fit.”