SBW staying on tour
Sonny Bill Williams is staying on tour, with the All Blacks hopeful he will recover from his shoulder injury to face Italy next week.
Williams suffered a grade one AC joint injury 36 minutes into the All Blacks’ 16-15 win over England at Twickenham, adding to a frustrating season in which the Blues second five-eighth has battled for form and game time.
While the 33-year-old has been ruled out of featuring against Ireland in Dublin this week, the All Blacks are giving him every chance to recover for their final match of the year in Rome.
Ngani Laumape, who scored three tries in Japan before returning home, has been called in as cover.
“There’s a pretty good chance he’ll be right for Italy so he’ll stay but Ngani is coming over to make sure, if we lose someone this week, we’ve got someone,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
With Williams out, Crusaders teammates Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue are expected to start in the midfield against Ireland.
Other than loosehead prop Joe Moody, who lacerated his eyelid in training last week, the All Blacks reported a fully fit squad.