Williams is in the clear for All Blacks’ opener
Coach Hansen confirms centre will be available for Australia clash after serving suspension
Sonny Bill Williams will have served his red-card ban by next month and be eligible for New Zealand’s Rugby Championship opener against Australia, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said yesterday.
Williams was handed a fourmatch ban after becoming the first All Black in 50 years to be sent off during New Zealand’s second Test loss to the British and Irish Lions earlier this month.
The former league star was shown a straight red for a shoulder charge into the head of Lions wing Anthony Watson.
He missed the drawn third Lions Test, which resulted in the series ending tied at 1-1, and the Auckland Blues’ shock Super Rugby loss to Japan’s Sunwolves last weekend.
Williams is also registered with provincial side Counties Manukau and two of their preseason matches will also count as part of the suspension.
Hansen said it meant the twotime World Cup winning centre would be available when New Zealand face Australia in Sydney on August 19. “Yep, he’ll be considered,” he told Radio Sport.
Discussing the Lions series, Hansen reiterated his call for rugby’s laws to be simplified, saying referees “had way too much influence on the outcome”.
“The thing that disappointed me is that they weren’t consistent,” he said. “That comes down to the rule book, [there’s] too many interpretations.
“We just want them to ref what’s in the rule book and if the rule book’s too complicated we need to fix that.”
Hansen said his back-toback world champions did not see the drawn series as a success, contrasting their attitude with the praise lavished on the Lions over the result.
“I guess that’s the difference between the two mindsets, isn’t it, and long may it last because I think that gives us an advantage going forward,” he said.