All Blacks to check on Williams’ fitness in a bid to field him against the Springboks
Sonny Bill Williams has been listed as a possible starter for New Zealand’s next Rugby Championship assignment as the All Blacks injury toll from Saturday’s win against Argentina continued to take its toll.
Williams has spent three months on the sidelines as he recovers from a shoulder injury, but the centre was one of three players called into the All Blacks squad by coach Steve Hansen following Saturday’s hard-fought 46-24 win over Argentina in Nelson.
Hansen told reporters twotime World Cup winner will have an X-ray on his shoulder on Monday and if given the all clear will face South Africa in Wellington this weekend.
Williams, who missed the first two Tests against France in June after knee surgery, played 58 minutes of the third Test before injuring his shoulder and has been out of action since.
Concussion-prone Ryan Crotty was also declared fit to go, and lock Patrick Tuipulotu earned a recall on news that Brodie Retallick and Ngani Laumape would be out for several weeks after being injured in the match against Argentina.
Retallick could be out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury while Laumape, brought into the squad as injury cover, faces missing three weeks with a damaged knee.
Hansen declared Crotty and Sam Cane fit for duty having recovered from head knocks suffered against Australia early in the Rugby Championship, while Rieko Ioane – recovering from a hamstring injury – and Williams were also in the frame for selection. Crotty and Cane could have played against Argentina “but we just chose to give them another week”, Hansen said on Sunday.
“Rieko will be available, so whilst we’re losing a couple, we’re getting a couple back on deck as well.”
With back-up lock Luke Romano already down with a calf strain, Tuipulotu got his recall after last playing for the All Blacks in November last year.
The towering lock scored three tries in a provincial match over the weekend in what was his first game since injuring a shoulder in May.
The All Blacks’ victory over Argentina kept them well in front in the Rugby Championship table, with 15 points from three bonus-point wins. South Africa, Argentina and Australia have one win each, with South Africa second in the table courtesy of two bonus points.