Nonu out of Blues squad

Caleb Clarke and Sonny Bill Williams are the notable new starters, but it’s TJ Faiane’s move to centre that could be the standout feature of the Blues lineup to face the Sharks in Durban on Sunday. Coach Leon MacDonald has made some significant tweaks in the wake of that disappointing, but spirited, first-up 24-22 defeat to the Crusaders at Eden Park. There are six changes and four new faces in his starting XV. There is also a reshuffle in midfield where Williams comes in for his first start at No 12 and Faiane shifts out a spot to centre. Ma’a Nonu, the All Blacks legend, sits this one out.

Blues: Melani Nanai, Caleb Clarke, TJ Faiane, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Otere Black, Jonathan Ruru; Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Josh Goodhue, Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), Ofa Tu’ungafasi, James Parsons, Karl Tu’inukuafe. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Alex Hodgman, Sione Mafileo, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Matt Matich, Augustine Pulu, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele’a. A Canadian club has Sonny Bill Williams in its sights, hoping to tempt him into a return to the rugby league fold. Williams, 33, is likely to be named in the All Blacks for their Rugby World Cup defence campaign in September. But what he does post the World Cup is creating plenty of speculation through both the rugby and rugby league codes. The Toronto Wolfpack club has made an early play for his services, reportedly making an offer to Williams’ agent, Khoder Nasser last year, foxsports.com.au reports. Sources for the Australian sports website suggested the club, which won the UK’s second tier Rugby League Championship last year, would have to table about A$5 million to secure Williams’ services. Part of that would be exempt under the competition’s marquee player rules. ‘‘We are working towards making Sonny Bill Williams a Wolfpack player for 2020,’’ Toronto’s owner David Argyle told foxsports.com.au.