All Black Williams told to up his game

Sonny Bill Williams has been given a tacit message from the All Blacks coaches as the world champions prepare for their clash with England on Saturday – they expect a bit more from him. At his best, Williams provides New Zealand with huge momentum in midfield but his form has not been outstanding this year and younger rivals for a spot in the centres are pushing him close. “Sonny has had the least rugby and is probably still finding his top form,” assistant coach Ian Foster said. “I think that it is a fair thing to say. Our midfield now is jumping out of their skin. The last two weeks we’ve probably seen the energy levels and work-rate in that group as good as it’s been all year. The other ones whenever they have gone out, they have done a really good job.”