Sonny Bill at peace with his role in the All Blacks

If anybody can appreciate the special talent that pervades this All Blacks backline, it’s Sonny Bill Williams. He was once in their boots, changing the game with his skills and athleticism; now he’s soaking up the chance to be part of this new generation of trendsetters.

There can be no doubt that Williams, the 34-year old on his last couple of laps of the All Blacks track, is at peace with his lot in this team. Nearly a decade on from his introduction, his job has not changed a great deal, though his role has.

In his heyday, playing behind the great Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith, Williams was the game-changing offloading savant who came off the bench and made a difference with his long-limbed athleticism and ability to create something from nothing. The All Blacks won the World Cups of 2011 and ‘15 with him playing that impact role to perfection.

Now Nonu and Smith have moved on and Williams has returned to that familiar job as midfield impact man for the business end of this World Cup. He fills it again tonight.

Williams is one of the steadying forces in a revolution of sorts in the All Blacks backline over the last 12 months. After being stilted by the Lions in 2017 and struggling at times through a rollercoaster 2018 ride, Steve Hansen and Ian Foster have reinvented the attack in 2019. Beauden Barrett has moved to fullback to allow for Richie Mo’unga’s introduction at first five-eighths and the dynamic Sevu Reece and perpetual motion that is George Bridge have come in on the wings.

Ever since Bledisloe II in Auckland the back attack has been sharp as a tack, and Williams has his take on the reinvention that has taken place. In his view it has been more evolution than revolution around giving free spirits the licence to play their game.

‘‘You’ve got to look at the calibre of players that we have,’’ he tells Stuff. ‘‘It’s about how you put that vision there and get the boys to believe in it, more so than I’ve got to change the way these guys play. We’re in a great environment, we have some great talent, and you have the vision to say, ‘why don’t we try this?’’’

Ask Williams about his enjoyment playing alongside the likes of Barrett, Reece and Mo’unga and it elicits a knowing chuckle and firm nod from a man who has morphed into a genuine leader in this group.

‘‘I remember going on in one of the big games, and on the microphone it was, ‘Whatever you do, don’t offload!’ Now they even have slang for it . . . KBA, Keep Ball Alive. When I see Sevu, Richie and guys like that expressing themselves, it’s a privilege to be playing alongside because they’re just backing themselves and playing what they’ve done in the backyard.

‘‘My mindset is being here where my feet are and winning today from a personal point of view, still trying to improve my core skills, fitness. When you have that mindset generally the bigger picture falls into place.

‘‘In my younger career I was fixated on ‘if I don’t do this, then I haven’t achieved anything’. Now it’s about enjoying that process and understanding that it is a game. As long as I know I’ve ticked those boxes and done my best, you can walk off the field and you’d be disappointed if you lose, but you can hold your head high because you’ve done your best.

‘‘That’s probably a cliche´ but I really believe in it.’’