Hansen will spring changes for Namibia

If the All Blacks selectors wheel out the destructive Sonny Bill Williams and Malakai Fekitoa at London’s Olympic Stadium it could light up the place in spectacular fashion.

Starting Williams and Fekitoa together for the first time against Namibia in the 80,000 seat stadium, the home of the West Ham United Football Club, on Friday morning (NZT) could have multiple benefits for a New Zealand outfit expected to dig deep into the roster to ensure their frontline players’ workload is managed ahead of the playoffs.

In all likelihood head coach Steve Hansen and co-selectors Ian Foster and Grant Fox would have settled on the team to play Namibia well before they left New Zealand.

The next step would be to wait until after this morning’s opening pool match against Argentina at Wembley before locking that team sheet in cement. Nothing fouls-up the best laid plans like a torn ligament or a pulled calf.

The chance of Williams and Fekitoa starting alongside each other is dependent on the former, who was listed on the bench, not picking up an injury against the Pumas.

If Williams emerges unscathed, the fixture against Namibia, who at No 20 on the World Rugby rankings are the tournament’s bottom seed, may prove the ideal setting for him to prove why he is still a contender to start in the playoffs.

Concussion, a back problem and leg complaints reduced his potency for the Chiefs during the Super Rugby season and the memory of his bright effort, when he ran like a thoroughbred and was quick to regain his feet after making tackles, against the Pumas in Christchurch in July was dulled by a mediocre effort in the 27-19 loss to the Wallabies in Sydney last month.

Williams started at No 12 against the Pumas, with Ma’a Nonu at centre. He also wore that number when he partnered-up with Conrad Smith in Sydney.

Fekitoa’s three appearances for the All Blacks this year have all been as a substitute; his last runon start was against Scotland in Edinburgh last November, with Ryan Crotty running as his wingman in the No 12 jersey.

Given the short turnaround between the Argentina and Namibia tests, it is not surprising that Hansen and co are expected to give their team a complete overhaul.

First five-eighth Dan Carter may make way for either Beauden Barrett or Colin Slade (probably the former), giving Williams something else to think about if he starts and has to gel with an unfamiliar playmaker.